Kropfenstein Castle

Kropfenstein Castle is a medieval cave castle tucked into a sheer rock face above Waltensburg/Vuorz in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, and at roughly 1,130 metres above sea level it counts among the most unusual ruins in the Alps.

What is a cave castle?

A cave castle uses a natural recess in the cliff as a roof and as one of its walls. Builders only had to raise masonry on the open side, so the structure is almost invisible from below. Kropfenstein is one of the best-known examples in Switzerland. The site lies at about 46.769° N, 9.101° E.

When and why was it built?

The castle is dated to around 1300. Dendrochronology, the study of tree rings in the timber used in construction, points to a date after 1300, and some sources give 1312. No written records mention the castle itself, so what we know rests largely on building research and the surviving fabric.

The lords of Kropfenstein, however, are documented as followers of the barons of Rhäzüns, and according to the research they lived here themselves. Kropfenstein was one of originally four castles in Waltensburg.

What does it look like?

The building is long and has three storeys. In the deeper part of the rock recess, traces of domestic life survive: windows with seats set into the niches, a garderobe projecting from the wall, and a drain in the kitchen. It is a rare chance to see how daily life looked inside a medieval noble residence, not just its defences.

The only way in is from the east along a narrow path hugging the cliff. During a restoration in the 1950s the path was widened and fitted with a railing. Take care at every step, and skip the visit in rain or on wet ground.

The end of occupation

The castle was abandoned after 1450. From then on the rock and walls slowly decayed into a ruin, until conservation work in the twentieth century.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Kropfenstein Castle? Above Waltensburg/Vuorz in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.

How old is it? It dates from around 1300; tree-ring dating points to the period after 1300.

Can you go inside? A narrow path from the east leads to the ruin; it was widened and secured with a railing in the 1950s. It still demands caution.

Who lived here? According to the research, the lords of Kropfenstein, who served the barons of Rhäzüns.

Is it a protected monument? Yes, it is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

When was it abandoned? After 1450.

Is there anything for families? A family treasure-hunt style rally of about 90 minutes, "Die versteckte Burg", leads to the ruin.