Castelgrande, Switzerland

The Castelgrande is a medieval castle located on hill above the capital city of the canton Ticino, Bellinzone, Switzerland. The castle was built around 1300 although its history dates from the 4th century when on the site of the current castle stood a Roman fortification. The present appearance of the Castelgrande is a result of several renovations, extensions and reinforcement works which were carried out from the 14th to 19th century. Its massive defensive walls knowns as La Murata were constructed in the late 14th and the early 15th centuries, while its towers known as the White and Black Tower date from the 13th and 14th centuries. At the end of the 15th century defensive walls were reinforced by the Sforza dukes of Milan but when Bellinzone became a part of Swiss Confederation around 1500 the Castlegrande lost its previous importance.



In the floods in 1515 a part of the defensive walls was destroyed, while the archaeological excavations in 1967 suggest that many buildings within walls were demolished in the 15th century. The last extensive restoration works were carried out between 1984 and 1992 by the architect Aurelio Galfetti.

Today the Castelgrande is open for the public and houses the Cantonal Archaeological Museum but is also used for various cultural events, meetings and conferences, weddings and other events. In 2000 the Castelgrande was also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites as part of Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzone for being an excellent example of a late medieval defensive structure guarding a key strategic Alpine pass.