Hohen Rätien Castle (Ruin) (Sils)

The history of Hohen Rätien is marked by continuous settlement and use. The plateau was inhabited in prehistoric times, and Roman finds attest to the site's strategic importance. In the High Middle Ages, the complex united ecclesiastical and secular power, a development interrupted by a severe earthquake in 1295. This led to the relocation of the episcopal administration to the valley. The three-story residential tower Hoch Rialt, originally from the 12th/13th century, was extended around 1250 but abandoned after the earthquake and fell into disrepair. St. John the Baptist Church, whose origins date back to late Roman times, was expanded in the 15th century but also abandoned in the early 16th century. The Pfaffenturm (Priest's Tower), presumably inhabited by local priests, and the Wehrturm (Defense Tower), dated to 1209, are other important components. Excavations also revealed a 5th-century baptistery, underscoring the site's long sacred use. In 1359, the church was transferred to Cazis Monastery, and around 1480, the von Jecklin family acquired the entire castle complex, subsequently calling themselves “von Jecklin von und zu Hohen Rätien,” and it remains in the possession of their family foundation to this day. Since 1972, the foundation, together with a support association, has been dedicated to securing and restoring the historical building fabric.

The ruin of Hohen Rätien is located in Sils in the Hinterrhein district, Graubünden canton, Switzerland, at an altitude of approximately 928 m above sea level.

The ruin of Hohen Rätien is accessible to visitors and can be explored. The Hoch Rialt was secured and restored in the 1990s, while St. John's Church was re-roofed in 1980 and now serves for cultural and ecclesiastical events. The Pfaffenturm was re-roofed in 1975 and now serves as accommodation for members of the family foundation and the support association.

• Ehrenfels Castle (Sils im Domleschg), approx. 0.8 km away
• Obertagstein Ruin (Thusis), approx. 1.5 km away
• Baldenstein Castle (Sils im Domleschg), approx. 2.1 km away
• Campell Ruin (Sils im Domleschg), approx. 2.3 km away