Alt-Rheineck Castle Ruins

Alt-Rheineck Castle Ruins stand on a hill above the small town of Rheineck in the canton of St. Gallen, eastern Switzerland. What survives is the base of a residential tower, stretches of the enclosing wall, a cistern cut into the rock and a moat that can still be traced in the terrain. It makes an easy short walk for anyone curious about the medieval history of the Lake Constance region.

What is there to see?

The ruin sits roughly half a kilometre west of the Rhine, above the town. This is an archaeological site in the open, not a restored attraction with ticket desks and long display panels. The cantonal archaeology service of St. Gallen dates the remains of the tower to the early 13th century. The moat that cut the castle off from the rest of the hill is the clearest feature, along with the thick tower masonry. The rock-cut cistern is a reminder of how much a hilltop stronghold depended on its own water supply.

What is the history of the castle?

Around 1163, Count Rudolf of Pfullendorf bought a fortification recorded as castellum Rinegge from the Bishop of Constance. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland says it may be Alt-Rheineck, though it stops short of a firm identification. A second castle, Neu-Rheineck, followed in the 13th century; it was destroyed in 1445 and its remains were pulled down in 1747. The older castle fell into decline earlier. Sources disagree on when it was destroyed, offering dates between 1408 and 1416 and linking it to the conflicts between Appenzell, the Confederates and the Habsburgs. Descriptions of the site therefore usually give a range instead of a single year.

How do you get there?

Rheineck lies on the Rhine next to the Austrian border, a short distance from Lake Constance. The town has rail links to Rorschach and St. Margrethen, and the hill with the ruin is within walking distance of the centre. The site is at about 47.4642 N, 9.5855 E. Wear sturdy shoes: the ground is wooded and uneven in places.

When should you visit?

Late spring to autumn is best, when the paths are dry. Combine the ruin with a stroll through Rheineck or a ride on the popular lakeside cycling route from Rheineck through Rorschach to Arbon.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No fee is documented. The ruin is an open-air site viewed from outside.

How long does a visit take? The remains themselves take a quarter of an hour. Including the walk up from central Rheineck, plan on about an hour.

Is this the same as Burg Rheineck on the Rhine in Germany? No. Burg Rheineck in Rhineland-Palatinate is an entirely different castle. This page covers the ruin in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen.

How is Alt-Rheineck different from Neu-Rheineck? Alt-Rheineck is the older hilltop castle, with remains from the early 13th century. Neu-Rheineck was built as a second castle in the 13th century, destroyed in 1445 and demolished in 1747.