Solavers Castle

Solavers Castle (Burgruine Solavers) is a ruined hilltop castle in the municipality of Seewis im Prättigau in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It stands at about 1,060 m above sea level, just above the hamlet of Seewis-Schmitten, and can be visited freely.

How did Solavers Castle begin?

According to research, the site started out as a fortified church in the Early Middle Ages, serving as the parish church for Seewis and Fanas. A square tower was added on the southern side of the hilltop in the 11th or 12th century. Graubünden tourism sources credit the Counts of Bregenz with expanding it into a feudal castle. Nothing is recorded about the first lords of Solavers.

Who owned the castle?

According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (HLS), the Lords of Aspermont held it in the 13th century. In 1344, a division of property sent the Prättigau inheritance to the Counts of Toggenburg. The Lords of Vaz and the Lords of Matsch also appear in the sources, and the exact order of owners is described differently depending on the account. After the death of Friedrich VII of Toggenburg, the defensive and residential buildings were abandoned and gradually fell into ruin.

What can you see today?

A massive defensive wall on the mountain side survives, along with parts of the walls of the Marienkirche, the former church. No archaeological excavations have taken place, so much of the layout remains unknown. This is a place for reading the traces of medieval fortification in the landscape, not for touring restored interiors.

How do you get to the Solavers ruins?

The ruins lie on the hiking trail between Grüsch and Seewis, directly above Seewis-Schmitten. Entry is free, with no ticket office or opening hours. The visit combines easily with a longer walk through the Prättigau valley, with views over the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Solavers Castle? In the municipality of Seewis im Prättigau, canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, at roughly 1,060 m elevation.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The ruins are freely accessible.

Is the castle intact? No, it is a ruin. Mainly the defensive wall on the mountain side and fragments of the Marienkirche walls remain.

Who built it? The first noble owners are unknown. Some sources credit the Counts of Bregenz with expanding it into a feudal castle; later owners included the Lords of Aspermont and the Counts of Toggenburg.

Have excavations been carried out? No, so many details of the complex are still unexplained.

Can I walk there? Yes, the ruins sit on the trail between Grüsch and Seewis.