| Leuk Castle | |
|---|---|
| Leuk in Switzerland | |
 Leuk Castle | |
  Leuk Castle  Leuk Castle | |
| Coordinates | 46°18′58″N7°38′02″E / 46.31619°N 7.633858°E Coordinates: 46°18′58″N7°38′02″E / 46.31619°N 7.633858°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
Leuk Castle or Bishop's Castle is a castle in the municipality of Leuk of the Canton of Valais in Switzerland.
The castle was originally built in the 13th century above the road from the Rhone valley over the Gemmi Pass. It was built about 60 meters (200 ft) west of the 12th century Viztum Tower, which had been built to guard the road. During the 12th century, the Bishop of Sion had gradually expanded his power in Valais. The local noble Leuk family built a small fort that was the foundation of the current castle. At the beginning of the 13th century they were forced to donate their lands in Leuk to the Bishop of Sion. They were then granted Leuk as a fief to hold for the bishop. Soon thereafter the Leuk family vanishes from the historical record. Around this time, the Bishop of Sion expanded the small castle into a much larger building that served as a home and administrative center. The fief of Leuk passed through the Ayent family, the Blonay and then around 1350 the Raron family. [1]
The main tower is square tower with about 9 meters (30 ft) long sides. The tower is surrounded by an irregular ring wall. The complex includes two rectangular residential buildings. The tower was probably built in the 12th century while the residential buildings are from the early to mid 13th century. [1]
The canton of Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland, situated in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is simultaneously one of the driest regions of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley and among the wettest, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland. The canton of Valais is widely known for the Matterhorn and resort towns such as Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. It is composed of 13 districts and its capital is Sion.
Sion is a Swiss town, a municipality, and the capital of the canton of Valais and of the district of Sion. As of December 2019 it had a population of 34,710.
Leuk is a municipality in the district of Leuk in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. On 1 January 2013 the former municipality of Erschmatt merged into the municipality of Leuk.
Tourbillon Castle is a castle in Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is situated on a hill and faces the Basilique de Valère, located on the opposite hill.
The Valère basilica, also called Valère castle, is a fortified church situated in Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is situated on a hill and faces the Château de Tourbillon, located on the opposite hill. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
The Stockalper Palace is a castle in Brig-Glis, Switzerland. It was built between 1658 and 1678 by Kaspar Stockalper, a silk merchant of Brig. The Stockalper Palace was the largest private construction in Switzerland at the time. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Frohberg Castle is a medieval castle ruin in the Swiss municipality of Aesch in the canton of canton of Basel-Land.
Castelmur Castle is a castle in the village of Bondo in the municipality of Bregaglia of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The fortifications at Castelmur may be, after the Three Castles of Bellinzona, the most important example of medieval valley fortifications in modern Switzerland.
Marschlins Castle is a castle in the village of Igis of the municipality of Landquart of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Brandis Castle or Maienfeld Castle is a castle in the municipality of Maienfeld of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Tschanüff Castle is a ruined castle in the former municipality of Ramosch of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Jörgenberg Castle is a castle in the municipality of Waltensburg/Vuorz of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Spiez Castle is a castle in the municipality of Spiez of the Swiss canton of Bern. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Mülenen Castle and the attached Letzi Mülenen wall are a ruined medieval fortification in the village of Mülenen and municipality of Reichenbach im Kandertal, in the Swiss canton of Bern. The Letzi Mülenen is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Guardaval Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Madulain of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Strassberg Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Churwalden of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Beauregard Castle is a ruined castle situated on a rocky spur at the entrance to the Val d'Anniviers, on the territory of Chippis in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
The ruins of the Gestelnburg castle are situated above the village of Niedergesteln in Valais, Switzerland, on a rocky ridge called Feschti. The castle was probably built during the 12th century by the powerful Barons de la Tour, which are also called in German Herrn vom Turn. The rule of this family ended during the wars against the bishop of Sion in the second half of the 14th century, and the castle was finally destroyed by the Upper Valaisans in 1384. Exactly 600 years later, a project was started to restore the ruins and make them more easily accessible. Behind the castle there is a cave called Feschtiloch, which originates from the last ice age. The Gestelnburg is a Swiss cultural property of national importance.
Zen-Ruffinen Castle or Loretan also known as de Werra is a castle in the municipality of Leuk of the Canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
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