Top 17 Castles around Walenstadt
Best castles around Walenstadt are found in a region characterized by its historical town walls and traditional Swiss architecture. While Walenstadt itself features remnants of urban fortifications, the surrounding area offers several notable castles. This region provides a blend of historical sites and natural landscapes, with castles often situated to offer views of the Rhine Valley and the Alps. Visitors can explore well-preserved medieval structures and learn about centuries of regional history.
Best castles around Walenstadt
- The most popular castles is Vaduz Castle, a castle that serves as the official residence of the Princely House of Liechtenstein. Its dramatic position on a rocky terrace above Vaduz offers panoramic views of the Rhine Valley and surrounding Alps.
- Another must-see spot is Sargans Castle, a 13th-century castle housing the Sarganserland Museum. This castle provides a journey into the Middle Ages with engaging exhibits and offers impressive views from its tower.
- Visitors also love Werdenberg — Old Town, Castle and Lake, a well-preserved high medieval hill castle. It functions as a cultural hub with two museums detailing its history and offers magnificent views over the Rhine Valley.
- Walenstadt is known for its medieval hill castles, historical fortifications, and princely residences. The area offers a variety of castles to see and explore, from those with museums to private royal residences.
- The castles around Walenstadt are appreciated by the komoot community, with 582 upvotes and 353 photos shared by visitors.
Last updated: May 26, 2026
Vaduz Castle
Highlight • Castle
Vaduz Castle, formerly also called Hohenliechtenstein, is located on a rocky terrace above Vaduz, the seat of government of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Today it is the town's landmark and the seat of the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
The time when the castle was built is not certain. Today, however, it is assumed that the first parts of the building were built in the 12th century. The keep was probably built as one of the first structures and was later supplemented by a residential tower which, thanks to dendrochronological studies, can be dated to 1287. In the decades that followed, the facility was successively expanded and extended.
The castle has been owned by the Princes of Liechtenstein since 1712. From 1712 to 1732 it was now called Hohenliechtenstein and served as the seat of the bailiff with official apartments in the west wing. In the decades and centuries that followed, the castle increasingly fell into disrepair, so that the first restoration plans were drawn up at the beginning of the 20th century.
Prince Johann II finally undertook thorough restoration from 1905 to 1912 under the direction of state curator Franz von Wieser from Innsbruck. Alois Gstrein from Brixen worked as master builder. Prince Franz Josef II had it extended and in 1939 he and his family took up permanent residence in the palace.
The palace is privately owned by the royal family and is therefore not open to the public. The reigning sovereign receives state guests and other visitors for private talks in the palace.
Text/Source: Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Vaduz
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Werdenberg — Old Town, Castle and Lake
Highlight • Historical Site
Werdenberg is a town with historical town charter in the eastern Swiss canton of St. Gallen. The town of Werdenberg belongs to the municipality of Grabs and is located 0.5 km west of Buchs. It boasts of being the smallest town in Switzerland with around 55-60 residents. Of the around 40 houses, some only serve as holiday homes. Werdenberg is often visited by tourists because of its very well-preserved medieval houses and the museum in Werdenberg Castle. The Werdenberg Castle Festival has been taking place in Werdenberg Castle since 1985.[
The county of Werdenberg included the castle and town of Werdenberg of the same name, the villages of Grabs, Buchs and Sevelen as well as jurisdiction over the Wartau domain (Wartau Castle and village of Gretschins). The noble family of the Counts of Werdenberg split into several side lines in 1277. The actual county of Werdenberg remained with the line of the Counts of Werdenberg-Heiligenberg.
In 1402 they pledged the County of Werdenberg to the Counts of Montfort-Tettnang, from whom it passed to the Counts of Sax-Misox in 1483. In 1485 the city of Lucerne acquired the county and passed it on to the Barons of Kastelwart in 1493. However, the county remained connected to the Confederation through a castle law with Lucerne, even when the county changed hands again to the Barons of Hewen in 1498. Werdenberg also fought on the side of the Confederates in the Swabian War. In 1517 the Barons of Hewen sold Werdenberg to the canton of Glarus for 21,500 guilders.
Glarus administered Werdenberg very strictly as a bailiwick - the Glarus lords were anything but popular in the Rhine Valley. Because of the confusing legal situation between the counties of Werdenberg and Sargans in the Wartau rule, there were repeated disputes between the bailiffs, which in the “Wartau trade” of 1694/95 were brought up to the federal parliament.
With the fall of the old Confederation and the founding of the Helvetic Republic in 1798, Werdenberg became part of the canton of Linth. When this was dissolved again with the mediation constitution of 1803, Werdenberg became part of the canton of St. Gallen.
Text from Wikipedia
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Sign up now to discover places like this
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
Sign up for free
Government Quarter, Vaduz
Highlight • Historical Site
Southern town center of Vaduz at the foot of the hillside of the castle forest, bordered by the English building on the north side and the Vaduz parish church of St. Florin on the south side.
In the late Middle Ages, on this section of the Reichstrasse Lindau–Milan below Vaduz Castle, there was a manorial court, the manorial (own) chapel of St. Florin with court chaplaincy buildings, the so-called Tschaggaturm (→residential towers) and a small customs house; The court sessions and the Landammann elections for the County of Vaduz took place near the nearby lime tree. Poeschel suspects that this is the center of the gaugrave's, later Werdenberg's, possessions in the Vaduz area. Since the 16th century, the area, which was originally located away from the village, has developed into the so-called official quarters (today the government district) through the settlement of manorial and later state authorities.
In 1585 the erection of a «Cantzley» building is mentioned for the first time, which may have been the Landvogtei or today's Rheinbergerhaus. The latter is occupied as an office building in 1617/19, in the 18th/19th In the 19th century it was the office and residence of the pension master, later the seat of the princely domain administration; since 1968 it has housed the Liechtenstein Music School. The bailiff, also mentioned in 1617/19, was the residence (with interruptions in the 18th century) until 1918, and until 1865 also the official seat of the bailiff (or the provincial governor from 1848). The Estates Parliament also met in this building, known as the Verweserhaus, from 1818 to 1862. Until the 19th century, between the Verweserhaus and the Rheinbergerhaus, there was the former manorial courtyard with the «Schellahüsli», which served as a prison.
The Verweserhaus is attached to the former stately tavern that was built around 1500. This also served as a customs building from 1637 and as a government building from 1865 to 1905. The Liechtenstein National Museum has been located here since 1972. To the north of it, the Estates House was built in 1866-67 as a meeting place for the state parliament, which also housed the offices of the regional courts, judges' apartments and a prison bar. It was used as a secondary school from 1905, as a state library from 1961 and demolished in 1970. Between 1903 and 1905, today's government building with the state parliament hall was built between the administrator's house and the parish church built in 1872 (also the cathedral since 1997). Other official buildings in the government quarter are the Schädlerhaus (today, among other things, the registry office), the Liechtensteinische Landesbank (1952), the state archive (1962) and the post office and administration building (1975).
A project by the Ticino architect Luigi Snozzi, which emerged from an urban planning ideas and project competition (1984-87) to redesign the entire area between the English building and the parish church, was rejected in a referendum in 1993. The new state parliament building planned by Hansjörg Göritz (Hanover) was built in 2002-07 between the administration building and the government building, adopting Snozzi's basic urban planning idea (hillside development). The extension of the State Museum (1999-2003) by the architects Brunhart, Brunner, Kranz (Balzers) and the new construction of the archive and administration building (2006-09) by the architects Keller and Brander (Vaduz) complete the hillside development.
Author: Michael Pattyn
historisches-lexikon.li/Regierungsviertel
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Sargans Castle
Highlight • Castle
The Sarganserschloss was first read in a document as early as 1282. In 1386 its owner, Count Johann I (called "Count Hans" for short) fought on the side of Austria near Sempach against the Confederates. Two years later he planned to take part in the battle against the Glarus people at Näfels, but luckily he did not appear with his people on the Kerenzerberg until the meeting had already been decided.
After the Old Zurich War, Sargans became subject to the Confederates. From then on (from 1459 to 1798) they administered this property as a common rule. 181 bailiffs replaced each other one after the other in the Sarganserschloss (each after a two-year term of office). The order of their appearance can still be read on the coat of arms that adorns the city side of the mansion: Zurich, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Zug and Glarus. (After the Villmerger Wars, from 1712, also Bern.)
The castle has belonged to the local community of Sargans since 1899. Architect Eugen Probst renovated it sensibly at the turn of the century. In 1969/70 the facade, the ring walls and the retaining walls were subjected to another renovation with the help of Heimatschutz and the federal government and the canton of St. Gallen. A visit to the old manor house and the Sarganserländisches Heimatmuseum in the tower are worthwhile!
Text: Pedagogical Publishing House LLZ
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Vaduz - Town Centre "Städtle"
Highlight • Settlement
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Sign up for free to discover even more castles around Walenstadt.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Start today with a free account
Your next adventure awaits.
Login or Signup
Popular around Walenstadt
Lake and Alps Adventure – explore 100 dreamy places in our cycling region!
Summer in Eastern Switzerland – 10 hikes in Heidiland
Blue lakes, wide panoramas & autumnal splendour – hiking in Heidiland
Wonderful panoramic bike tours over Lake Walensee
Hiking around Walenstadt
Cycling around Walenstadt
MTB Trails around Walenstadt
Road Cycling Routes around Walenstadt
Running Trails around Walenstadt
Gravel biking around Walenstadt
Other adventures around Walenstadt
Tips from the Community
Vaduz Castle, "Landmark of Vaduz" Vaduz Castle is the landmark of Liechtenstein's capital city and is visible from afar. Vaduz Castle sits perched approximately 120 meters above the city of Vaduz. The castle's origins likely date back to the 12th century. The keep was probably one of the first structures built and was later supplemented by a residential tower. This residential tower can be dated to 1287. It is first mentioned in historical records in 1322. It came into the possession of the House of Liechtenstein in 1712 and, under the name Hohenliechtenstein, served as the seat of the Landvogtei (bailiwick) with official residences in the west wing until 1732. Afterward, it fell into increasing disrepair, and it was not until 1905 to 1912 that it underwent a thorough renovation and restoration. Prince Franz Josef II then had it expanded and made habitable. In 1939, he moved in with his family and took up permanent residence there. Visiting: The castle is not open to the public. A glimpse inside the castle can be seen in the film "Princely Moments" at the Alte Kino Vaduz (Old Cinema Vaduz). Text / Source: Official Tourism Website of the Principality of Liechtenstein https://tourismus.li/map/poi/schloss-vaduz-8fb7e6cf-99b5-4ffb-b600-9e4c66398e1f.html
14
0
Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, lies on the Rhine River near the Swiss border. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the 12th-century Vaduz Castle is a royal family residence. In the pedestrian-friendly town center, called Städtle, lies the Liechtenstein Art Museum, with its polished facade and modern art exhibits. Nearby, the National Museum, housed in a medieval building, houses archaeological and cultural artifacts.
5
0
Sargans Castle is definitely worth a visit!
8
0
The state's government district is located on the east side of the spacious Peter Kaiser Square. Since 2008, the government building, the state parliament building and the state archive have formed the newly designed government district with the impressive Peter Kaiser Square.
1
0
The royal family resides high above the city. Even though you can't go into the castle itself, you can still enjoy a great view of Vaduz from up there.
14
0
The municipality in the Oberland is the residence of the prince as well as the seat of the state government, the state parliament and all courts. It is also the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishopric of the same name.
2
0
Beautiful and worth seeing city, worth a trip 👍
2
0
The pedestrian zone from the government district to Vaduz Town Hall is traffic-free.
2
0
Frequently Asked Questions
What historical sites can I explore in the Walenstadt region besides castles?
While the focus is on castles, Walenstadt itself has a rich history with remnants of its old town walls and traditional Swiss architecture. You can explore the well-preserved old town of Walenstadt to experience its historical charm. Additionally, the nearby town of Werdenberg, with its medieval wooden houses, is a protected townscape of national importance.
Are there family-friendly castles to visit near Walenstadt?
Yes, several castles in the region are great for families. Sargans Castle, for example, houses the Sarganserland Museum with engaging exhibits, including a children's trail where younger visitors can try on knight's helmets and medieval costumes. Werdenberg Castle and its surrounding medieval town also offer an immersive historical experience suitable for all ages.
Which castles offer the best views of the surrounding landscape?
For breathtaking panoramic views, Vaduz Castle, despite being a private residence, offers stunning vistas of the Rhine Valley and the Alps from its grounds. Werdenberg Castle, perched on a hilltop, also provides magnificent views over the Rhine Valley. From Sargans Castle, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the valley from its medieval tower.
Can I visit the interior of Vaduz Castle?
No, Vaduz Castle is the official private residence of the Princely House of Liechtenstein and is generally not open to the public. However, you can explore its accessible grounds and admire its impressive exterior, which offers excellent photo opportunities and panoramic views.
What museums are located within the castles near Walenstadt?
Sargans Castle houses the Sarganserland Museum within its tower, spread across six floors, offering insights into the history, sights, and customs of the Sarganserland region. Werdenberg Castle also functions as a cultural hub, housing two museums that detail the history of its rulers across different epochs.
Are there cafes or restaurants near the castles?
Yes, you can find dining options near some of the castles. Sargans Castle has a restaurant on-site. At Werdenberg Castle, there is a bistro in the courtyard. The towns surrounding these castles, such as Sargans and Werdenberg, also offer various cafes and restaurants.
What outdoor activities can I do near these castles?
The region around Walenstadt offers various outdoor activities. You can find numerous cycling routes, such as the 'View of Sargans Castle – Sargans Cycle Path loop' or the 'Fläsch Vineyards Path – Alpenrheinweg Rheindamm loop'. For running, trails like the 'Lake Walen – Lakeside Cycle Path loop' are available. You can find more details on these and other routes in the Cycling around Walenstadt, Road Cycling Routes around Walenstadt, and Running Trails around Walenstadt guides.
What is the best time of year to visit the castles around Walenstadt?
The castles and their surrounding areas are enjoyable throughout much of the year. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures for exploring and hiking. Summer is also popular, though it can be busier. While some castles may have reduced hours or closures in winter, the snowy landscapes can offer a unique and picturesque experience. Always check specific castle opening times before your visit.
How accessible are the castles by public transport?
Many castles in the region are accessible by public transport, often involving a train journey to a nearby town followed by a local bus or a walk. For instance, Sargans Castle is located near the town of Sargans, which is a significant transport hub. Werdenberg is also well-connected. For Vaduz Castle, you can reach Vaduz by bus from Sargans or Buchs (Switzerland), and then take a hiking path up to the castle grounds.
Are there any dog-friendly options for visiting castles or nearby areas?
While specific castle interiors might have restrictions, the grounds and surrounding hiking paths are generally dog-friendly. For example, the hiking path leading up to Vaduz Castle is suitable for walks with dogs. Always keep dogs on a leash and be mindful of other visitors and local regulations, especially in museum areas or restaurants.
What makes Werdenberg Castle unique?
Werdenberg Castle is unique for its well-preserved high medieval architecture, blending military design with later baroque additions like its distinctive onion dome. It's part of a 'living' medieval town, one of the few remaining urban wooden settlements in Europe, offering a complete historical experience with two museums and a charming old town to explore.
How long should I plan for a visit to one of these castles?
The duration of your visit depends on the castle and your interest. For Sargans Castle, with its six-floor museum, you might spend 2-3 hours. A visit to Werdenberg Castle and its small town could easily take half a day. For Vaduz Castle, as the interior is closed, an hour or two for the grounds and views is usually sufficient.
Most popular routes around Walenstadt
Most popular attractions around Walenstadt
Get inspired with the komoot mobile app
Explore more
Looking for the best castles somewhere else? Discover other guides around Walenstadt:
