Alt-Haldenstein Castle
Alt-Haldenstein Castle is a castle in the municipality of Haldenstein of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is a Swiss Swiss [inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance].
History
Haldenstein Castle was probably built in the 10th or 11th century as the family castle of the Ministerialis Haldenstein family, who were in service of the Lord of Vaz. By the 12th century the family had split into two lines, the Haldenstein family and the Lichtenstein family -Haldenstein. The old castle was sold to Gregor von Hohenbalken, the Lord of Aspermont, in 1567. In 1608 it was sold to the Scheuenstein family and later the Salis-Maienfelds occupied the castle. It was damaged in an earthquake in 1769 and again in 1787 and it was abandoned in the following years.Castle site
The castle was built on a small rocky outcropping above the valley below the Calanda massif. Due to the small size of the outcropping, the castle site is compact without outbuildings or curtain walls. Over the centuries the tower's height increased in several stages as the owners expanded in the only direction they could, upward. Several building phases can still be seen in the remaining tower walls.The castle site can only be reached by following a narrow and steep trail along the mountain to the castle outcropping.