Riom Castle

View from the southeast

The Riom Castle ( Romansh: Casti because Riom ) is on an elongate outcrop below the village in the municipality of Riom Riom- Parsonz in Oberhalbstein in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Riom is one of the most important castles in Graubünden and is under the protection of the canton and the Swiss Confederation.

Plant

The main building is a slender tower and a massive palace. The tower has a square floor plan of 7 meters on one side, the Palas is 12 to 34 meters. The 28 meter high tower is connected to the 3rd floor with the Palas and is lit by narrow notch window. Around 1 meter below the crest can be found the remains of a plate container mantel. The interior is not habitable; probably the tower served only for representation purposes.

The Palas of Riom Castle is the largest secular building in the late Middle Ages in the Grisons. It was built over two floors and topped up a little later to a basement. It was originally crowned by a battlement, which towered above a shallow gable roof. The current roof is newer, but a rebuilt early modern design. Front of the old high input on the 2nd floor was a 4 meter long balcony that was accessible via an outside staircase. Inside remains of two chimneys, one oven and two abortion bay are obtained. To the south lie the remains of a Bering. The wall is in the north, where the gate system is likely slipped. On the inside were partly multi-storey buildings ajar.

History

In the middle of the 9th century was in Riom a royal court, the Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia gave some Ruotpert, the 904 exchange as the Lorsch Abbey passed on him. As the Court came to the Lords of Wangen- burgeis from the Vintschgau, is not known. You attributed in 1240 on the former royal court of the construction of the castle Riom. This independent rule was unwilling to accept the bishopric of Chur, but they would have cut off the Bishop of the route over the Julier Pass and his possessions in the Engadine. 1258 sold Berall of cheek burgeis but in response to the castle, his property in stone above and in Chur for 300 marks his cousin, the Bishop of Chur. But this probably took from the Vazern on money and put the Riom Castle as a pledge; only 1275 pledge shaft was dissolved.

Since 1258 the castle was now in possession of the diocese of Chur and was henceforth seat of the bailiff who exercised high justice in the above stone. Since the beginning of the 14th century, the lords of Marmels owner of the Bailiwick, had to keep the castle open for the bishop had. 1410 Riom is listed in the Buoch Vestinen.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle was repeatedly pledged. 1473 received Rigett of Fontana, the castle as a fief of the bishop, after he had the former mortgage holder Hans von Sal pays the transfer fee. 1492 Bishop Henry gave the castle to Benedikt Fontana, the leader of the Grison troops in the Battle of the Calven.

In 1552, the valley bought from the episcopal dominion rights going on. Until the 18th century met in the castle nor the rural community, otherwise it was uninhabited after the 16th century. 1867, the roof was removed to the burned village Riom rebuild with the beams, a year later, the floor fixtures have been removed. According to Anton von Castelmur served the documents from the archives of the tower to the women as fodder for their hoods or were used by children to play. Then began a rapid disintegration. Until the 19th century the castle was still occasionally used as a prison.

Modern Times

1936 was made by the Swiss Burgverein under Eugen Probst first conservation measures. In 1973, the roof was re- covered.

2006 Riom Castle was rebuilt by the Chur architect Marcel timothy for 1.3 million to a theater with 220 seats. All the buildings were carried out reversibly and affect the historic fabric barely. All interventions were accompanied by the preservation of historical monuments and the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons.

Since 2006 takes place on the Riom Castle each year the Origin Festival held one of the largest cultural events in Romansh territory of the canton. In the castle walls gray jackdaws nesting in one of the largest colonies of Switzerland.