Last Castle Ruin

Last Castle Ruin (German: Ruine Last, formerly Burg Schönenberg) stands on a hilltop in Kradolf-Schönenberg, canton Thurgau, in north-eastern Switzerland. What remains of the stronghold is chiefly a 12th-century residential tower, roughly 12 metres tall, set on a rise at 547 metres above sea level. It is one of three castle sites along the local ruin trail, together with Anwil and Heuberg.

Who built it, and when?

In the 12th century, ministerials serving the Bishop of Constance, knightly retainers of the church ruler, raised the castle. The family took the name von Schönenberg from it, and the name later passed to the nearby village. Hiking guides date their service to the bishop from 1159. Earlier names for the site were Vesti or Burg Schönenberg. The name Last only stuck in the late Middle Ages, borrowed from a neighbouring farm.

What happened afterwards?

After the middle of the 14th century the castle ceased to be a residence and began to decay. In 1360 the Bishop of Constance took over the lower jurisdiction in the area and set up the Schönenberg office, run by his bailiff (Obervogt) in Bischofszell until 1798. By then the castle was no longer the seat of power. The wall crowns were conserved in 2003–2005 to protect what survives. A 1984 monograph, "Die Burgruine Last", covers the site in detail.

What will you see?

The highlight is the tall residential tower with its thick walls, visible above the treetops. The site is open, free to enter and has no set opening hours. The Genossenschaft Ruinen Kradolf-Schönenberg looks after it and runs the website ruinelast.ch. It suits a short family outing or a stop on a longer walk that takes in Anwil and Heuberg too.

How do you get there?

Take the train to Kradolf via Weinfelden or Gossau SG. From the parking area a signposted path leads to the ruin in about 10 minutes. By car you can drive to the trailhead; the rest is on foot. The coordinates are 47.5179, 9.1927.

When should you visit?

The ruin is reachable all year, but spring to autumn is the most comfortable season, when the path is dry. In summer, combine it with the whole ruin trail through three castles and enjoy the landscape of the Thur valley.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No. The ruin is free to visit with no time restrictions.

How long is the walk from the car park? The signposted path takes about 10 minutes.

How old is the tower? The residential tower dates from the 12th century and was built by ministerials of the Bishop of Constance.

Are there other ruins nearby? Yes. Last is one of three castles on the Kradolf-Schönenberg ruin trail, alongside Anwil and Heuberg.