Top 10 most beautiful castles in Switzerland

The video shows the rankings on the 1st of October 2017

Switzerland has some of the best preserved castles in Central Europe. From elegant palaces to formidable fortresses, Swiss castles are among the most visited tourist attractions in Switzerland. Wherever you may find yourself, there is always a picturesque castle nearby waiting to be explored. Most were constructed during the Middle Ages, offering you a rare glimpse back into times long past.

10.Aigle Castle

The first Aigle Castle was built in 1179 by the Barons of Aigle in the form of a small fortification, that later became the center of the modern castle, along the road over the Col du Pillon and Col des Mosses passes of the Rhone. However, only traces of this first castle have been archaeologically discovered.
The castle was rebuilt in the 13th Century, with a fortified donjon and a curtain wall. In the 14th Century, the Lords of Compey added turrets and in 1450 built a massive tower in the south corner. This tower was an example of late French Donjon architecture.
In 1804, the castle was acquired by the community of Aigle and until 1976 it was used as a cantonal jail. Since then, it has been a museum open ...... view details

9.Aarburg Castle

Aarburg Castle is located high above the town Aarburg on a steep, rocky hillside. The castle was built around a medieval castle, which controlled the narrow point on the Aare river and served as the seat of Aarburg Vogt.
Today it houses the Kantonale Jugendheim, for holding and rehabilitating juvenile offenders. It is classified as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.... view details

8.Tarasp Castle

Castle Tarasp dominates the eponymous locality in the Upper Engadine. The castle belonged until 1803 to Austria, was laid siege to and fought over several times, but was never captured.
In the year 1900, the inventor of the mouthwash Odol, Karl August Lingner, bought the castle and had it completely restored.
Since 1919, Castle Tarasp is open to all visitors, who can view knights' halls and ballrooms, old bedrooms, the castle chapel and the organ with its 2,500 pipes. The castle also offers public organ concerts and guided tours.... view details

7.Valere Basilica

The Valere Basilica also called Valere Castle is a fortified church situated in the city of Sion. It is situated on a hill and faces the Castle of Tourbillon, located on the opposite hill. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
The organ on the west side of the Valere basilica, believed to have been built in 1435, is one of the oldest functioning in the world. It was probably brought to the church by Guillaume de Rarogne, who eventually ended up as the bishop of Sion. Its pipes are arranged to form a rough outline of a church; the larger pipes form two towers, and the smaller ones create a triangular church roof. The organ was modified in the 1700s to play Baroque music, but otherwise remains ...... view details

6.Vufflens Castle

Vufflens Castle was built in 1425 on the site of a previous medieval castle by Henri de Colombier. The first castle on the site was built by the lords of Vufflens; nothing remained of that structure.
In 1530, the castle was set on fire by Bernese troops; in 1641 it was acquired by the de Senarclens family. Of the original castle by Henri Colombier, the donjon (or the keep), several towers, outbuildings, the surrounding wall and the gate house remain.
The castle is currently privately owned and cannot be visited.... view details

5.Oberhofen Castle

During the High Middle Ages, Lord von Oberhofen built Balm Castle on a hill above the village. In 1306 the von Eschenbach family (who owned the castle by that time) was forced to sell Oberhofen and the castle to the Habsburgs.
Over the following centuries the castle changed hands frequently. In 1849-52 the Pourtales family renovated and expanded the castle to its present appearance. In 1952 it became a part of the Historical Museum of Bern and two years later they opened a branch in the castle.... view details

4.Castles of Bellinzona

The Castles of Bellinzona are a group of fortifications located around the town of Bellinzona, the capital of the Swiss canton of Ticino. Situated on the Alpine foothills, the group is composed of fortified walls and three castles named Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro.
Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of walls that protect the old city and connect to Montebello. Sasso Corbaro, the highest of the three castles, is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two.
The Castles of Bellinzona with their defensive walls have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.... view details

3.Chillon Castle

Chillon Castle is an island castle located on Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), south of Veytaux in the canton of Vaud. Chillon is amongst the most visited castles in Switzerland and Europe. According to the castle website, Chillon is listed as "Switzerland's most visited historic monument".
Chillon Castle is situated at the eastern end of the lake, on the narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve, which gives access to the Alpine valley of the Rhone. It began as a Roman outpost, guarding the strategic road through the Alpine passes. It was used as a defensive outpost, a prison and a munitions and weapons depot.
Chillon was made popular by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon (1816) about Francois de Bonivard. Byron also carved his name on ...... view details

2.Gutenberg Castle

Gutenberg Castle lies on a hill near the centre of the town of Balzers and is accessible via a street and road known as 'Burgweg'. Gutenberg is one of the five castles of the principality and one of two that have survived preserved until the present day.
Unlike Vaduz Castle in Vaduz, Gutenberg Castle does not serve as a residence of the princely family of Liechtenstein and is open to the general public as a museum.... view details

1.Vaduz Castle

Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop.
The keep, built in the 12th century, together with elements of the eastern side are the oldest parts of the castle. The Princely Family of Liechtenstein acquired Vaduz Castle in 1712 when it purchased the countship of Vaduz.
The castle underwent a major restoration between 1904 and 1920, then again in the early 1920s during the reign of Prince Johann II, and was expanded during the early 1930s by Prince Franz Joseph II. Since 1938, the castle has been the primary residence of Liechtenstein's Princely Family. The castle is not open to the public as the princely family ...... view details

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