Kastelen Tower Ruins

Willisau, Switzerland

Kastelen castle was built in the 13th century by the Counts of Kyburg. At the time of the peasant war in 1653 it was looted and left to decay. Today the tower remains. 

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Address

Unnamed Road, Willisau, Switzerland
See all sites in Willisau

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Switzerland

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Willisau Castle (3,1 km)


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Solothurn Cathedral (35 km)
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Elisabethenkirche (54,3 km)
Thun Castle (51,1 km)
Church of St. Leodegar (26,3 km)

User Reviews

Ross Heaney (4 months ago)
Stunning views of the countryside, great for a pleasant and easy walk up, with the extra bird’s eye view from the top of the ruins. Highly recommend walking from here to Wyher castle, approximately 50mins.
Markus Schmid (4 months ago)
Extreme foresight. Modern expanded. With barbecue areas and public toilet
Bart Pelle (2 years ago)
These ruins are an amazing sight. After only a 20-30 minute hike from the town, you'll be presented an incredible experience of a ruins dating back to 1273. With a massive steel construction totalling 300,000KG, you can make your way to the top of the former watchtower and enjoy a view that lets you see the beautiful landscape and the few towns around. The hike is light and easy, and the steel construction is very stable and doable for kids. Outside are two fire places where you can prepare food, or simply sit and get warm.
Bart Pelle (2 years ago)
These ruins are an amazing sight. After only a 20-30 minute hike from the town, you'll be presented an incredible experience of a ruins dating back to 1273. With a massive steel construction totalling 300,000KG, you can make your way to the top of the former watchtower and enjoy a view that lets you see the beautiful landscape and the few towns around. The hike is light and easy, and the steel construction is very stable and doable for kids. Outside are two fire places where you can prepare food, or simply sit and get warm.
Ewelina W (2 years ago)
Lubię to miejsce, idealne na spacer, na grilla, atrakcje dla dzieci.
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Château de Falaise

Château de Falaise is best known as a castle, where William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840 it has been protected as a monument historique.

The castle (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of the Dukes of Normandy. The construction was started on the site of an earlier castle in 1123 by Henry I of England, with the 'large keep' (grand donjon). Later was added the 'small keep' (petit donjon). The tower built in the first quarter of the 12th century contained a hall, chapel, and a room for the lord, but no small rooms for a complicated household arrangement; in this way, it was similar to towers at Corfe, Norwich, and Portchester, all in England. In 1202 Arthur I, Duke of Brittany was King John of England's nephew, was imprisoned in Falaise castle's keep. According to contemporaneous chronicler Ralph of Coggeshall, John ordered two of his servants to mutilate the duke. Hugh de Burgh was in charge of guarding Arthur and refused to let him be mutilated, but to demoralise Arthur's supporters was to announce his death. The circumstances of Arthur's death are unclear, though he probably died in 1203.

In about 1207, after having conquered Normandy, Philip II Augustus ordered the building of a new cylindrical keep. It was later named the Talbot Tower (Tour Talbot) after the English commander responsible for its repair during the Hundred Years' War. It is a tall round tower, similar design to the towers built at Gisors and the medieval Louvre.Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840, Château de Falaise has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

A programme of restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1874. The castle suffered due to bombardment during the Second World War in the battle for the Falaise pocket in 1944, but the three keeps were unscathed.

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