Zwing Uri Castle

Zwing Uri Castle is situated in the municipality of Silenen, canton of Uri, Switzerland, along the Gotthardstrasse.

Location

• Zwing Uri Castle is situated in the municipality of Silenen, canton of Uri, Switzerland, along the Gotthardstrasse.

History

The site had been occupied since the Bronze Age. By 1150, there was a farmstead with three buildings. A defensive tower replaced the dwelling by the early 13th century. The tower stood until approximately 1310-1320, when construction of a full castle with a ring wall and moat began but was abandoned after six weeks.

The slighting of Zwing Uri is mentioned in the White Book of Sarnen, a Swiss chronicle from 1470. This event is believed to have occurred around 1307, as reported by the Chronicon Helveticum from 1570. The castle's destruction marked the beginning of the Burgenbruch, a period of fortress demolition that would eventually lead to the formation of the Swiss Confederacy.

Architecture

Zwing Uri Castle was built in the medieval style and features a hillfort design. Although the full expansion into a castle with a ring wall and moat never materialized, remnants of these structures remain visible today.

Current Status and Use

The site remained unoccupied until 1868, when a restaurant was constructed using stones from the ruin. The remains were secured in 1928, when the ruin was acquired by the Schweizerischer Burgenverein. Today, Zwing Uri Castle is open to visitors and serves as a notable example of Swiss heritage.

Heritage Status

Zwing Uri Castle has been recognized as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

Visiting Information

Visitors can access the castle ruins, which are open to the public. The site offers a glimpse into Switzerland's medieval past and its role in shaping the country's history.

Notable Features and Rooms

Although the full extent of the castle's original design is not known due to the abandonment after six weeks, remnants of the defensive tower and planned expansion remain visible today.