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Summary of the examination report
The Tower was probably built in the 11th or 12th century. Though the wall facing the valley is the only one actually dating from this period; the remaining three sides were completely rebuilt towards the end of the 15th century. The actual residence, the Palace and the exterior walls were constructed simultaneously in the early 13th century. During this period a first construction was erected between Palace and Keep that, along the east-west axis, had the same dimensions as the Keep. Its easterly wall bordered another building that surrounded the area from spandrel to exterior wall on the westerly side of the Keep. The southern facade of the palace is characterised by a biforium (double paned window with a central pillar) of romanesque appearance. This was erected during a later renovation when the inside of the ground floor was altered for the first time. This striking window could possibly be connected with the construction of a private chapel in the south-west corner of the building. The building on the northern side of the Tower, of which the cellar is still preserved, must have been built before the end of the 13th century.

The first documented destruction of the installations in the years 1291/96 might possibly have led to the extension of the building between Palace and Keep, as well as the unification of the roof construction (stepped gable). In the late 13th or early 14th century the building between Keep and Palace was extended to the east. The north facade with its three entrances reflects the structure of the ground floor. The large, central portal opened onto a ramp that led to the cellar of the palace. The western portal led to a room with a cellar underneath from where the upper floor of the Palace could be reached on the same level. In view of its dimensions (135 cm in height) the eastern portal could hardly have been meant for people (material pass). Inside today’s ruins of the building one can make out holes of beams marking the floors, chimneys and windows that are, in part, due to later alteration phases.

In the early 15th century rumour has it the castle was destroyed. The attested fire of 1415 probably caused burn marks in the buildings to the west and north of the Keep; as a result they were burnt down. It is said that in 1475 the Tower and adjoining apartments were rebuilt. Three sides of the Keep were redone. It is at this time that the dainty windows with their rounded, rod shapes and the large chimney that characterise the building to the north of the Palace were built.

In the first half of the 16th century the installations were drastically renewed. At that time the wooden furnishing, that is still visible in the pictures taken in 1915, was built (1532: date carved in the wood, preserved in the museum). During the same renovation the stairwell in the north-west corner was probably extended (in the sketch by M Merian (1642) it reached to the height of today’s reconstruction). From this stairwell a walled staircase led south to the second floor of the Palace.

Presumably in the 17th century the building to the north of the Palace was made smaller. An inner courtyard and a new staircase were created to access the upper floors of the Palace. A kitchen was built in the place of the walled staircase in the west. It is at this stage not possible to date the further renovations: the new division of the floors of the Keep might well be connected with the extension of the staircase up to the battlements. One last time the dimensions of the building were altered when the part to the north of the Palace was raised by one floor and windows were made simultaneously (?) in the top floor of the Palace.


Summary based on the report from the Office for Archaeology and Building Inspection H.J. Lehner for the cantonal preservation of historical monuments (1996, 1989, 1988, 1986).

A. Antonini 10. 5. 2000