The area around Wartau was first settled around 9000 years ago, culminating in neolithic settlements on the nearby Ochsenberg and Prochna Burg at about 3000 BC.[2] A Merovingian fortress was built at Prochna Burg, but was destroyed around 750. While there are no written records that mention the first owner of the castle or when it was built, the wooden beams in the castle have been dated to about 1225. It was probably built as an administrative center for royal estates in the area. It may have been built by the GraubündenFreiherr von Sagogn, because around 1320 it was inherited by Count Hugo III von Werdenberg-Heiligenberg from the Freiherr von Wildenberg who was related to the Freiherr vonf Sagogn.[3]
The castle first appears in the historical record in 1342 when Johannes von Belmont pledged it to his wife Adelheid von Klingen in exchange for 250 silver marks. In the following decades the Belmont family fought the Werdenberg-Heiligenbergs until the death of Ulrich Walter von Belmont in 1371 and the extinction of the Belmont family.[3] The castle probably returned to the Werdenberg-Heiligenberg family and was occupied by their vassals for the next couple decades. Around 1390 the castle was owned by the related Werdenberg-Sargans. In 1393 as the two families fought for territory, the castle was besieged for eleven days.[4] In 1399 it returned to the Counts of Werdenberg-Heiligenberg.[5]
During the 14th century the castle was expanded several times, but by the 15th century it began to be neglected. In 1414 Count Rudolf II sold Wartau to his cousin Count Friedrich VII of Toggenburg, but six days later converted the sale into collateral for a loan. The Counts of Werdenberg-Heiligenberg died out in 1428, before they could redeem the loan. Eight years later Friedrich VII died, ending the Toggenburg line and starting the Old Zürich War over the Toggenburg inheritance.[3] After the war it was inherited by the Freiherr von Thierstein, but after their extinction it passed through the von Limburg, Montfort-Tettnang and Sax-Misox families before it was sold in 1485 to the city of Lucerne.[4] However, Wartau was too far from Lucerne and in 1493 they sold it to the Barons of Kastelwart. The Barons were faithful supporters of the Habsburgs, which caused conflicts with the villagers who supported the Swiss Confederation. In 1498 they sold the castle and lands to the Swabian von Hewen family. In the following year Matthias von Kastelwart died in the Battle of Dornach against the Swiss. In 1517 the Hewen family sold the castle and lands to the Canton of Glarus. However, the Glarus appointed Landvogt lived at Werdenberg Castle and so the castle at Wartau lost its administrative role and was abandoned around 1530.[3]
Following the collapse of the Helvetic Republic and the creation of the Canton of St. Gallen in 1803, Wartau became part of the new Canton. The castle ruins were sold in 1818 to a private owner. It was donated to the municipality in 1911 and restored in 1932. In 1982 it was again repaired and restored, followed by a survey and excavations in 2002.[3]
Castle siteedit
It was built atop a small tor or rock outcrop east of Gretschins hamlet. The castle consists of either two square towers built next to each other or a single rectangular tower which was divided into two.[4] The north-eastern tower was about four stories tall, while the south-western tower was lower and divided into apartments. Around 1300 a crenellatedparapet was added around the top of both towers. In the 14th century an additional story was added to the top of both towers along with new parapets and a flat roof.[6] The new upper story is still visible as it was built from different stone.[4] Around 1500 the upper story was rebuilt. The main tower is 22 meters (72 ft) tall with walls that are up to 1.75 m (5.7 ft) thick. Each story is about 4 m (13 ft) tall.[6]
The castle is surrounded on three sides by a ring wall, which ran along a steep cliff.
Galleryedit
View of the castle from nearby Procha Castle
Reconstruction of the castle from between 1511 and 1752
Interior of the tower with holes for the floors visible
Interior of the tower, chimney visible on the left
^ ab"Placard for Wartau by the Cantonal Archeology office" (PDF). www.sg.ch/home/kultur/archaeologie.html. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
May 15, 2024
wartau, castle, ruined, castle, municipality, wartau, canton, gallen, switzerland, swiss, heritage, site, national, significance, wartauwartauruins, wartau, above, wartauwartaushow, canton, gallenwartaushow, switzerlandcoordinates47, 0987333, 4906222, 0987333,. Wartau Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Wartau of the Canton of St Gallen in Switzerland It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance 1 WartauWartauRuins of Wartau above WartauWartauShow map of Canton of St GallenWartauShow map of SwitzerlandCoordinates47 05 55 44 N 9 29 26 24 E 47 0987333 N 9 4906222 E 47 0987333 9 4906222Typehill castleCodeCH SGHeight650 m above the seaSite informationConditionruinSite historyBuiltabout 1225MaterialsTuff blocksGarrison informationOccupantsFreiadelige Contents 1 History 2 Castle site 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThe area around Wartau was first settled around 9000 years ago culminating in neolithic settlements on the nearby Ochsenberg and Prochna Burg at about 3000 BC 2 A Merovingian fortress was built at Prochna Burg but was destroyed around 750 While there are no written records that mention the first owner of the castle or when it was built the wooden beams in the castle have been dated to about 1225 It was probably built as an administrative center for royal estates in the area It may have been built by the Graubunden Freiherr von Sagogn because around 1320 it was inherited by Count Hugo III von Werdenberg Heiligenberg from the Freiherr von Wildenberg who was related to the Freiherr vonf Sagogn 3 The castle first appears in the historical record in 1342 when Johannes von Belmont pledged it to his wife Adelheid von Klingen in exchange for 250 silver marks In the following decades the Belmont family fought the Werdenberg Heiligenbergs until the death of Ulrich Walter von Belmont in 1371 and the extinction of the Belmont family 3 The castle probably returned to the Werdenberg Heiligenberg family and was occupied by their vassals for the next couple decades Around 1390 the castle was owned by the related Werdenberg Sargans In 1393 as the two families fought for territory the castle was besieged for eleven days 4 In 1399 it returned to the Counts of Werdenberg Heiligenberg 5 During the 14th century the castle was expanded several times but by the 15th century it began to be neglected In 1414 Count Rudolf II sold Wartau to his cousin Count Friedrich VII of Toggenburg but six days later converted the sale into collateral for a loan The Counts of Werdenberg Heiligenberg died out in 1428 before they could redeem the loan Eight years later Friedrich VII died ending the Toggenburg line and starting the Old Zurich War over the Toggenburg inheritance 3 After the war it was inherited by the Freiherr von Thierstein but after their extinction it passed through the von Limburg Montfort Tettnang and Sax Misox families before it was sold in 1485 to the city of Lucerne 4 However Wartau was too far from Lucerne and in 1493 they sold it to the Barons of Kastelwart The Barons were faithful supporters of the Habsburgs which caused conflicts with the villagers who supported the Swiss Confederation In 1498 they sold the castle and lands to the Swabian von Hewen family In the following year Matthias von Kastelwart died in the Battle of Dornach against the Swiss In 1517 the Hewen family sold the castle and lands to the Canton of Glarus However the Glarus appointed Landvogt lived at Werdenberg Castle and so the castle at Wartau lost its administrative role and was abandoned around 1530 3 Following the collapse of the Helvetic Republic and the creation of the Canton of St Gallen in 1803 Wartau became part of the new Canton The castle ruins were sold in 1818 to a private owner It was donated to the municipality in 1911 and restored in 1932 In 1982 it was again repaired and restored followed by a survey and excavations in 2002 3 Castle site editIt was built atop a small tor or rock outcrop east of Gretschins hamlet The castle consists of either two square towers built next to each other or a single rectangular tower which was divided into two 4 The north eastern tower was about four stories tall while the south western tower was lower and divided into apartments Around 1300 a crenellated parapet was added around the top of both towers In the 14th century an additional story was added to the top of both towers along with new parapets and a flat roof 6 The new upper story is still visible as it was built from different stone 4 Around 1500 the upper story was rebuilt The main tower is 22 meters 72 ft tall with walls that are up to 1 75 m 5 7 ft thick Each story is about 4 m 13 ft tall 6 The castle is surrounded on three sides by a ring wall which ran along a steep cliff Gallery edit nbsp View of the castle from nearby Procha Castle nbsp Reconstruction of the castle from between 1511 and 1752 nbsp Interior of the tower with holes for the floors visible nbsp Interior of the tower chimney visible on the leftSee also editList of castles in SwitzerlandReferences edit Kantonsliste A Objekte GR KGS Inventar in German Federal Office of Civil Protection 2009 Retrieved 9 November 2017 Castello Wartau Federal Office of Civil Protection Retrieved 9 November 2017 a b c d e Burg Wartau www burgenwelt ch Retrieved 9 November 2017 a b c d Schloss Wartau www swisscastles ch Retrieved 9 November 2017 Wartau in German French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland a b Placard for Wartau by the Cantonal Archeology office PDF www sg ch home kultur archaeologie html Retrieved 9 November 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wartau Castle amp oldid 1191973985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
