Castle History

Rising above the village of Ramosch in the Lower Engadine, this dramatic ruin clings to a rocky spur high over the Inn Valley. Tschanüff Castle's construction dates to the 13th century, when regional nobles sought to control alpine routes linking northern and southern Europe. The fortress served as a key stronghold in a landscape shaped by trade, tolls, and territorial rivalry. Steep cliffs on multiple sides provided natural defenses, reducing the need for extensive outer walls. Stone towers and curtain walls once dominated the valley below, projecting power across the Engadine. The site became entangled in the complex politics of local lords, the Bishop of Chur, and the Habsburgs. During the late Middle Ages, shifting alliances repeatedly altered its ownership. Its strategic importance made it both valuable and vulnerable during periods of conflict. In the 15th and 16th centuries, regional uprisings and wars weakened its position. The fortress was ultimately destroyed in the 16th century amid political turmoil in the Grisons. Rather than being rebuilt, it was left to decay as warfare and governance evolved. Harsh alpine weather accelerated the collapse of roofs and upper structures. Even in ruin, the remaining walls reveal skilled medieval masonry. The site later became a landmark of local identity rather than military power. Romantic-era visitors were drawn to its wild setting and stark silhouette. Legends grew around its abandoned towers and fallen halls. From the heights, sweeping views stretch across the Engadine valley and surrounding peaks. Today, Tschanüff Castle's ruin stands as a quiet witness to medieval ambition shaped—and ultimately undone—by mountain politics and time.