Hohenrätien Castle

High Rätien

High Raetia, the largest castle complex on the territory of the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland, is situated on 946 m above sea level. M. in the municipality of Sils im Domleschg in the district Rhine. It is privately owned by the family trust of Jecklin and is under the protection of the Swiss Confederation and the canton of Graubünden.

Location

The large complex is located on the mighty rock head of Crap Son Gion (Eng. " Johannisstein ") on the right hand 250 meters above the north entrance to the Via Mala Gorge and dominated the area at the confluence of the Rhine and rear Albula. On three sides of the castle plateau is protected by vertically sloping rock walls, access to the system is possible only at the very steep south side also has a 40 m below ground saddle. High Raetia was directly on the since prehistoric times to the early modern well-trodden route Via Mala, one of the most important north-south connection of the central Alps.

History

Historically, architecturally and burgenkundlich provides High Raetia in some respects an enigmatic rarity Represents the striking, for settlements excellently suitable plateau has tracks from all eras dating back to the Bronze Age. Remains of Roman buildings are archaeologically detectable in several places in the area and provide an indication in a prominent use of the strategically important town by the Romans. Its strategic location on the major transit route is comparable with Saeben Klausen at the Brenner Pass.

During the High Middle Ages united High Rätien the regional religious and secular power. This could have lead there to a city's founding, or at least to an administrative focal point for the valley. The destruction wrought by the violent earthquake of 1295 are likely to have prevented this development but in favor of a further development in the valley below. There in Fuerstenau was then the bishop's administration. Accordingly Fuerstenau in 1354 and received its charter.

Existing buildings

The system is divided into an outer ( fortified church ) and a dense built-up inner region ( administrative ). The only partially visible perimeter ( Bering ) encloses an area of about one hectare and probably dates from the early Middle Ages. Are scattered inside the Bering and no obvious relationship to each other three towers and other architectural remains. Two of the towers were formerly inhabited, the third used as a watchtower.

High Rialt

At the highest point of the three -story office and residential tower high Rialt is ( in the plan f ) ( 12-13. Century, possibly older foundations ). The increase of an original two -story stone house to the castle tower is expected to be carried out in 1250 as a living and working space for the episcopal administration ( Church Vogt ). Presumably, the tower was already heavily damaged during violent earthquake of 1295, after which the episcopal administration was moved to the nearby episcopal castle of Fuerstenau GR.

The high Rialto was abandoned and already referred to 1410 in the episcopal annals ( directories) as decay.

After nearly 600 years of decay of the tower was given a not visible from the outside retracted roof with Impluvium and inserted glass pyramid and a support structure within which preserves the building before its collapse during backup and restoration work in 1990 /1991.

Church of St. Johann

On the eastern edge of the walled enclosure again today roofed church of St. John the Baptist is ( in plan b). It has an elongated vessel, angled at which the east, light, a rectangular choir attaches. The only original standing Campanile ( bell tower ) is now integrated into the north wall of the nave. The church of St. John was built in the 15th century as the last extension in a number of religious buildings, whose origins date back to the late Roman period. At the beginning of the 16th century, the old churches and baptismal tradition was abandoned, the last pastor left his stormy benefice and gradually disintegrated the church. It survived the centuries as a ruin until it was considered in 1980, again as part of the restoration work. Since then, she serves again for cultural and religious occasions.

Pfaff tower

In the north- west of the church, the square, three-story tower rises so-called Pfaff ( in the plan c ), which was probably inhabited by the pastors on High Raetia. Inside five phases of reconstruction are visible. In 1975 he was again exposed. Today, the tower serves the members of the Foundation and of the Society as a guest.

Tower

The standing in the southeast of the plant so-called tower ( in the plan e) overlooks the entire access area of the castle hill and may have served as a single building mainly for defensive purposes. Its origin is dendrochronological dating back to the year 1209.

Baptistery

On the north-east of the castle excavations of the cantonal archaeological service in the years 1999 and 2005 brought a whole complex of religious buildings to light ( in the plan a and g). The excavation results suggest that the system after withdrawal of the Romans in the early Christian period mainly for sacred purposes (Valley and Baptistry of St. John ) was used.

Scientific sensation was caused by the exposure of a large stone baptismal font in a baptistery -cultivation, which is typologically dated to the year 500. Its central feature is visible as incurred over the centuries ecclesiastical new and Erweitungsbauten always made ​​reference to the baptismal font and a connecting staircase to the year 1250 newly created maintained access to the old Baptistery. The oldest remains of walls in this complex of religious buildings are from a written around the year 350 late antique building, which already served sacred tasks.

Ownership

1359 St. John's Church was sold by the bishop of Chur to the monastery Cazis, in exchange for possessions in the Lower Engadine. About 1480 went the whole, until then episcopal castle, to the family of Rodelser Jecklin that received by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg nobility titles and called himself " of Jecklin to and from High Raetia ." As Fideikommiss High Rätien has remained to this day in the possession of the family foundation. Current owner and president of the family foundation is Ruedi of Jecklin.

Restoration

Since 1972, the family foundation, supported by volunteers of the Association Castle High Raetia (formerly Working Group on High Raetia, AHR) is active for successively to secure the valuable buildings from nearly 2,000 years of history and preserved.

More images

Pfaff tower