Burg Friberg

Burg Friberg is the ruin of a medieval tower castle right next to Trun (Romansh: Trun/Truns) in the Surselva valley of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Only low wall remnants survive, but the site has a well-documented past and makes an easy stop while exploring the upper Rhine valley.

What is it and what can you see today?

The ruin sits on an elongated moraine hill beside the road from Trun to Schlans. The foundations outline a nearly square tower of about 10 by 11 metres with walls roughly 1.8 m thick. The remains once rose several storeys, but a tall section of the north wall collapsed in 1911, leaving just a low stump. Do not expect a restored fortress with rooms to tour. This is a short stop for castle fans and anyone interested in regional history.

Who built it?

The builders are unknown. The name is associated with the noble Friberg family, but that cannot be proven. One suggestion is that the Fribergs built it while serving as bailiffs of the Disentis monastery. Local sources also give the Romansh name Farbertg. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland counts it among the monastery castles that marked the edge of the abbey's lands around Trun, facing the lordships of Waltensburg and Jörgenberg, and dates it to about 1248.

What do the records say?

• 1249: the administrator Antonius de Carnisio hands the monastic castle to his brother Lanfrancus.
• 1252: a papal document criticises Lanfrancus's management and says the "castrum Fridelberg" was sold for a large sum, or that its sale was allowed.
• 1327: after disputes with the abbey, the bailiff Hugo von Werdenberg returns the castle and the Breil farm to the monastery.

When and why the castle was abandoned is not recorded in the sources.

How do you get there?

Trun lies in the Surselva on the main road from Chur towards Disentis/Mustér and the Oberalp Pass. The drive from Chur takes about an hour, and Trun is also served by the Rhaetian Railway line from Chur to Disentis. The ruin stands along the local road to Schlans, close to the village centre. There is no entry fee.

What else is nearby?

Trun is known in Swiss history as the place where the Grey League was formed in 1424, and the village has historic houses and churches. Other castle ruins of the region lie nearby, including Jörgenberg near Waltensburg. The Surselva is good walking and cycling country along the Rhine.

FAQ

Do you need a ticket for Friberg ruin? No. It is an open-air ruin by the road, with no fee and no opening hours.

Can you go inside? Only low walls and the outline of the tower foundations remain, so a visit means viewing the ruin from outside and walking its footprint.

How long does a visit take? Plan on 15 to 30 minutes. Combine it with a stroll through Trun or a drive along the valley.

Where does the name Friberg come from? It is associated with the noble Friberg family, though the link is unconfirmed. Sources also use the forms Fridelberg and Frickberg.