Spliatsch Castle (german: Burg Spliatsch) is a ruined castle in the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality ...
of
Surses
Sursés (german: Oberhalbstein) is a municipality in the Albula Region of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2016 the former municipalities of Bivio, Cunter, Marmorera, Mulegns, Riom-Parsonz, Salouf, Savognin, Sur and Tinizong ...
in the
Albula Region in the
canton of
Graubünden in
Switzerland.
History
Very little is known about the early history of this castle. It was built along the important trade road that led over the
Julier and
Septimer Pass
Septimer Pass (German: ''Septimerpass'', Italian: ''Passo del Settimo'', Romansh: ''Pass da Sett''; elevation ) is a high mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in the Swiss Alps between the valleys of Bregaglia (Bergell) and Surses (Oberh ...
es probably in the 12th or 13th century. A local noble family of the same name existed during that time and may have built the castle. In that case, when they died out in the early 13th century the castle was inherited by Marmels family.
It is also possible that the castle was built by the Marmels family directly to support
Marmels Castle
Marmels Castle german: Burg Marmels is a ruined castle in the municipality of Marmorera in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Location
The ruins of the ''Grottenburg'' (a castle built into a naturally occurr ...
which is only away. The earliest mention of Spliatsch is in 1193 when, at the request of the
emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( e ...
, Andreas von Marmels imprisoned the
papal legate
300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate.
A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...
Cintius there.
In 1486 the castle was inherited by Anton and Augustin de Beccaria from their mother Anna von Marmels. However, the surrounding farm and pastures were rented out. At that time the tower was still in good condition and the renters were required to look after it and repair the roof as needed.
It is unclear if the de Beccarias ever lived in the tower. In the early 16th century the Marmels family reacquired the castle. After Hans von Marmels, the last of the line, died in 1550 the castle was probably abandoned. By the 17th century it was a ruin.
[
]
Castle site
The tower is and three stories tall. The walls are thick at the base. The main entrance is located on the west side on the second story. On the inside traces of the original plaster and the chimney of a fireplace are visible. Almost nothing remains of the castle walls and outbuildings.[
]
Gallery
File:Spliatsch Grundriss.jpg, Plan of the castle
File:Sicht von oben in das Innere der Burg-Ruine Spliatsch- Luftaufnahme erstellt mit einem Quadrocopter Phantom und einer Gopro Hero 3-Kamera- 2014-04-20 21-07.jpg, Aerial view of the castle
File:Spliatsch Nebengebäude.jpg, Location of an outbuilding
File:Spliatsch Eingang.jpg, Main entrance into the castle
File:Spliatsch Südseite.jpg, South wall of the castle
See also
List of castles in Switzerland
This list includes castles and fortresses in Switzerland.
Entries list the name and location of the castle, fortress or ruins in each Canton in Switzerland.
Aargau
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Basel-Landschaft, Bas ...
References
{{Authority control
Castles in Graubünden
Ruined castles in Switzerland