Ortenstein Castle

Ortenstein Castle rises around one hundred and twenty meters above the Domleschg valley floor on the right bank of the Rhine on a steeply sloping rocky outcrop, known as "ort" in Middle High German. The development of the castle began in the early 15th century with the construction of the striking keep.

The castle was most likely built by the Lords of Vaz. It was initially regarded as an episcopal fief, but soon became the property of the powerful family, who in the early 14th century appeared in possession of the "Ortenstain" castle, first mentioned in a document in 1309.

Destroyed—except for the tower
Since Donat von Vaz, who had resided at Ortenstein and whose additions to the tower had set the direction for later architectural development, died in 1337 as the last of his line, Ortenstein passed to his son-in-law Rudolf von Werdenberg-Sargans in 1338. In 1451, during the “Schamser Fehde,” the Werdenberg-owned Ortenstein was destroyed except for the tower. An arbitration ruling in 1452 permitted its reconstruction, and the east wing was built, featuring cellars hewn into the rock.

Over the following centuries, the castle changed hands among various owners. In 1933, Ortenstein Castle passed to Dr. Johann Friedrich von Tscharner. He maintained and enhanced the castle with great care and artistic sensibility. The exterior appearance that Ortenstein presents to visitors today was largely shaped by the addition of the transverse wing in the first half of the 18th century. They rebuilt the west wing and the two corner buildings of the east wing, added the onion-domed structure to the clock tower, and thus gave the castle that compact form which makes it appear as a structure that has grown organically from the mighty rock itself.

Ortenstein Castle is the largest castle complex in the Valley of Castles and Palaces.

Access
Ortenstein Castle is privately owned and not open to the public. The castle is visible from the Domleschg Castle Trail.