Haldenstein Castle

The origins of Haldenstein Castle lie in Haldenstein Castle, situated above the village. In 1509, Conradin von Marmels, the then owner of the castle and lord of Rhäzüns, was one of the most influential feudal lords in the region. Through the marriage of his son Jakob's widow, Haldenstein came into the possession of the Milanese nobleman Jean Jacques de Castion, who served as the French envoy to the Three Leagues in Chur. Between 1544 and 1548, de Castion had a new castle built in the village, replacing an older stone house. The shell was completed in 1545, with the opulent interior decoration taking another three years. After the builder's death in 1553, the castle continued to serve, with some interruptions, as the seat of the French legation until 1622. In 1608, the castle came into the possession of Thomas von Ehrenfels-Schauenstein through inheritance, who also acquired the lordship in 1613, making his family one of the wealthiest in Graubünden. In 1656, the brothers Thomas and Julius Otto von Schauenstein divided the property, with the dividing line running through the castle's longitudinal axis. After Julius's line went bankrupt around 1700, Gubert von Salis reunited the two halves in 1729, having acquired the half belonging to the heiress of Thomas's line in 1703. In 1731, he had an additional floor added and the interior elaborately designed. After a fire in 1732, the castle was restored just one year later. Following Gubert's death in 1737, the southern half went to his brother Thomas. Gubert's daughter Barbara Cleophea sold her northern half in 1763 to professors Martin Planta and Johann Peter Nesemann, who operated a Graubünden seminary there until it was moved to Marschlins in 1771. In 1780, Major Rudolf von Salis acquired both halves, and later the castle passed through various hands of the Salis-Haldenstein and Salis-Soglio families, who had it rebuilt around 1900. In 1922, Leonhard Batänjer acquired it, whose heirs sold it to a foundation in 1966. A comprehensive restoration took place from 1986 to 1999.

Haldenstein Castle is situated at an elevation of approximately 570 meters above sea level in the municipality of Haldenstein, which belongs to the Landquart district in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.

Today, Haldenstein Castle houses the municipal administration, the Archaeological Service of Graubünden, and a café. It is a venue where cultural events are regularly held.

• Haldenstein Castle Ruin (castle), approx. 0.3 km away
• Lichtenstein (Haldenstein) Castle Ruin (castle), approx. 0.7 km away
• Grottenstein (Haldenstein) Castle Ruin (castle), approx. 0.7 km away
• Episcopal Castle (Chur) (castle), approx. 3.4 km away