Mülenen Castle

P3

Letzimauer Mülenen

The ruins Mülenen and the ruins of the associated Letzimauer date from the 13th century and located in the town of Reichenbach in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Location and description

The hamlet Mülenen located at the narrowest point of the entrance to the Kander Valley and is a strategically important point for the control of the entire valley of great importance. In order to better defend the Suldbach been redirected and changed the course of Bach before the castle and the Letzi. The barrier wall was 1.45 meters wide at its base and between 3 feet and 5 feet high. Based on the thickness of the walls, a parapet and balustrade must have been present. On the south side a Rondenweg enabled patrolling guards. On the north side was a berm, then came the brook. Today's ring road to Mülenen runs right through the Letzi.

In the middle of the complex stood the castle Mülenen. The Castle Hill was built in four phases. In the middle of the main building was a floor area of ​​10 to 19 meters, of an approximately square -extending wall (24 × 24 m ) was surrounded and a Sodbrunnen.

History

The archaeological investigations prove that today's visible remains of walls were not the oldest fortifications, but that perhaps as early as the second half of the 12th century, a dam was probably made ​​of wood. The construction of the visible today barrier must be done on the basis of found improvised wood siding under great time pressure. 1269 the village was first mentioned in documents held by the Barons of Kien.

From 1290 the barons of Wädenswil owner of the castle and the Letzi were. They were followed by the gentlemen of the turn after as owner. 1294 took place most probably in Mülenen fighting in the feud between the Wädenswil and the city of Bern. 1330 came Mülenen as pledge Bernese creditors. However, the barons bought back the property in 1334 and sold it in 1350 to Thüringstrasse of Brandis. 1352 bought the city of Bern place and castle Mülenen. By 1400 Bern moved the seat of the bailiff on the Tellenburg and the castle were Mülenen give up. In the following years the plant has been used as a quarry. Built in 1941, the Swiss army almost on the same place, the locking dispositive Mülenen. During the construction of the bypass road Letzi was rediscovered in 1990. 1992, declared a National Monument and Castle Letzi. In 1995, the remains of the castle and the Letzi were preserved.