Castelmur Castle (Bondo)

Castelmur Castle and Church of Nossa Donna

The ruins of the castle and the dam of Castelmur situated on a natural rock barrier in the village of Bondo in Bergell in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

Location

The ruins of Castelmur lie above the village Promontogno on a natural rock barrier which separates the valley level of Vicosoprano from the low-lying valley portion of Bondo. The plant is now under drive from the main road in a tunnel.

Plant

The installation of the dam of Castelmur is basically divided into three different elements that were only partially interconnected.

Top Level: Turraccia

On the top level can be found on a wide cliff top ruins of a tower with a floor plan of approximately 10 × 10 meters. The elevated position enabled a wide view over the valley. With the middle stage there was no structural connection.

Medium Maturity: feudal and Church of Nossa Dona

On an elongated rocky ridge north of the church of Nossa Donna lie the ruins of the former feudal castle. Has obtained a mighty residential tower with remains of the Bering and subsidiary buildings.

The five-storey square keep was built around 1300. It has a floor plan of 12 × 12 meters, the wall thickness is 2.4 meters. The entrance was high in the east wall in the second floor and could be reached via a wooden exterior staircase. In the 3rd and 4th floor ever led an inclined flue for a fireplace to the outside. In the 3rd floor of the west wall led a door on a balcony or in an adjacent building. On the south side exit was a leading around the entire tower portico whose Gehhorizont is still recognizable by the beam holes. The tower was probably covered by a tent roof.

The facility was surrounded by a irregularly leading to the rocky plateau Bering, was the gate on the south side. To the west and east of the tower are remains of walls of outbuildings.

Saddle north of the castle

In the western and eastern end of the low-lying saddle in the north of the castle there are the remains of a truss that was used to defend the castle. Architectural remains are not recognizable.

Lowest level: Dam

The roadblock " Müraia " on the terrace above the gorge of Mera was the northernmost and deepest part of the plant. On the west and east side was ever around a 3.70 meter thick wall with a gate. On the side of the valley remains of battlements have received. The western wall has crumbled. The approximately 50 cm deep cuts in eastern gate were probably the inclusion of cross-laid tree trunks. The top section formed a parapet, which rested partly on piers and arches. In the north of the plateau are the remains of a later- built enclosure. Remains have been found of Roman buildings on the plateau in the 1920s, were among the Roman road station mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary for " Murus "; probably a letziartige attachment.

Upper part of the eastern dam

Lower part of the eastern dam

Lower part of the eastern dam

Western part of the dam

History

In Rhaetian Reichsguturbar from the year 831 the dam " Castellum ad Bregalliam » is cited as a fief Constantin first time. 960 reached the Bergell through bartering with Emperor Otto I to the bishopric of Chur. In a document dated 20 October 988, the exchange of with Emperor Otto III. confirmed; the Holidays « Insuper bergallium cum castellum " is explicitly mentioned. Even subsequent acknowledgments in the 11th century affect all the valley with castle, church and customs.

To 1121 Chiavenner brought the castle by force in their possession. Pope Calixtus II. Called the bishop of Chur on twice to get the members of his diocese in Chiavenna to return. From an instrument of peace of the diocese with the city of Como from the year 1219 shows that the dam was the border of the Chur power range.

The Lords of Castelmur appear with Albertus de Castello Muro first time in 1190th The Ministerialengeschlecht named after the castle, she held as Burglehen and herded them on behalf of the Chur bishop. 1271 uncertificated Bishop Henry on Castelmur. Around 1340 Bishop Ulrich pledged the castle for 200 marks to the family of Planta. In 1393 he released a quarter of the sum, the castle around 1410 had to pledge to Jacob Parutt of Castelmur. 1430 sat Andreas von Salis - Soglio on Castelmur. 1490 Bishop Ortlieb handed the castle for life to Michael Pfannholz and his wife and daughter. You would have to agree on which sloz the tach, webs and keep chamber in eeren. In the 15th century the castle lost its military significance. 1538 reported chronicler Tschudi, the castle had gone off to teyl. When the settlement was abandoned Castelmur, is not known.