Illens Castle

Rossens, Switzerland

The ruins of Illens castle stand on a rock wall above a loop of the Saane river. The castle stands on the opposite side of the river from the fortified town of Arconciel. The two castles secured both sides of a crossing (either a ford or a bridge) over the river. The castle is first mentioned between 1150 and 1276.

In 1366, the notoriously violent Count Peter of Aarberg moved into the castle and remained there for a short while. The chamberlain of Charles the Bold, Guillaume de la Baume, expanded the castle and when he left in 1470, it was an elegant and comfortable palace. During the conflicts leading up to the Burgundian Wars, Fribourg and Bernese troops stormed and damaged the building on 3 January 1475.

In 1900, it was partly repaired and expanded and served a community of Trappist monks.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

A la Garde, Rossens, Switzerland

See all sites in Rossens

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Switzerland

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Hauterive Abbey (2,9 km)
La Maigrauge Abbey (7,7 km)

Old City of Berne (34,8 km)
Bern Minster (34,8 km)
Zytglogge (34,6 km)
Federal Palace of Switzerland (34,3 km)
Chillon Castle (38,7 km)
Palais de Rumine (43,6 km)
French Church (34,6 km)
Lausanne Historical Museum (43,6 km)
Nydeggkirche (35,2 km)

User Reviews

HeFFa LuMP (9 months ago)
A place to have a picnic but unfortunately nothing else Will be remodeled...

Katja Dorsaz (2 years ago)
Beautiful place, with a nice square and picnic tables

DENKMAL Christian Python (3 years ago)
31.08.2022. What a pleasure to discover this magnificent place in the canton of Friborg overlooking the Sarine and this mansion under renovation thanks to an association of volunteers. It is certain that I would come back there if only to meditate and dawdle listening to the song of the birds or the knock knock of the woodpecker.

Joël C (3 years ago)
A very nice place for a short walk in the forest, a picnic near the ruins or very close to the water ??? Free parking next to the farm.

Victor (3 years ago)
A magnificent place! Even though we couldn't get in because it's being renovated, I find its ruins splendid! Congratulations to those who funded the renovation of this place. The renovation is really well done. They are also redoing the floor. I look forward to being able to visit the interior. There are also picnic tables for resting. To visit and study!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright discopalace

Historic Site of the week

Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.