Burg Friberg (Siat)

Burg Friberg is a ruined medieval castle on a rocky outcrop above the village of Siat in the Surselva region of Graubünden, Switzerland. Since 2014 Siat has belonged to the municipality of Ilanz/Glion. The site sits at roughly 46.7917 N, 9.1620 E.

What was Burg Friberg?

The castle was the seat of the Friberg family, free nobles (Edelfreie) of the Vorderrhein valley. Unlike many local knightly houses, they held their land outright rather than as vassals of a higher lord. Their stronghold anchored a small lordship covering the area around present-day Siat.

Who held it over the centuries?

The first documented family member is Friedrich von Friberg, recorded between 1255 and 1289. The Fribergs were related to the Frauenberg lords. The line died out around 1330, and the castle changed hands several times afterwards.

Historians disagree on the details of the 1330s. One account says Donat von Vaz received Friberg as a fief and that it passed to his daughter Ursula and her husband Rudolf von Werdenberg. Another holds that Donat merely laid claim to it, and that Ursula gave up the claim in 1342 in return for an Austrian fief. After a feud with the lords of Rhäzüns, the couple had to give up both Friberg and nearby Jörgenberg, and in 1343 both castles went to the Rhäzüns family.

The wider lordship of Siat then passed to the counts of Zollern in 1458, and in 1472 Disentis Abbey bought the castle. It stands today as a ruin.

What can you see today?

The ruin stands on a rock above the village buildings. It suits visitors interested in medieval Rhaetia and the castles of the Vorderrhein valley. The ruin of Jörgenberg near Waltensburg shares the Rhäzüns chapter of the story, so the two make a natural pair for a day exploring Surselva.

How do you get there?

Siat lies in Surselva within Ilanz/Glion, close to Ilanz, the region's main town. Start in the village and look up to the rock above it. The Graubünden tourism app has a "getting here" map for the ruin, and the coordinates above work in any navigation app.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Friberg Castle?

It belonged to the free lords of Friberg, known from sources in the later 13th century. Friedrich, recorded from 1255 to 1289, is the first documented member.

When was the castle abandoned?

The family died out around 1330, and Disentis Abbey bought the castle in 1472. The exact date of its abandonment is not established.

Where is Burg Friberg?

Above the village of Siat in Surselva, Graubünden. Siat has been part of Ilanz/Glion since 1 January 2014.

Is it the same as Jörgenberg Castle?

No. Jörgenberg is a separate ruin near Waltensburg. Both castles passed to the lords of Rhäzüns in 1343, which links their histories.