Schalun Castle

Schalun, known locally as the Wildschloss, is a ruined castle on the slope above Vaduz, a thirteenth-century site abandoned by the fifteenth and now walls and a tower stump in the forest, reached on a walk of around an hour up from the town. The name refers to how long it stood empty. From the ruin the Rhine valley and Vaduz Castle below are laid out. Stabilisation work has been done on the walls in recent decades to stop the ruin collapsing further.

Background

Also called Burg Schalun or Ruine Schalun, the ruin carries the everyday nickname Wildschloss, meaning castle in the wild. It sits in the mountains about 1 kilometer northeast of central Vaduz and is free to visit, reached on foot or by mountain bike along a local path. The castle probably dates from the close of the 12th century, and the earliest written mention of it is from 1237. During the 18th century it passed to the then Prince Regnant of Liechtenstein, and in 1933 ownership of the ruin went to the Municipality of Vaduz. Of the five castles still standing in Liechtenstein, it is one of three in ruins.

Source: Wikipedia, "Schalun Castle"

What to look for

• The ruin - walls and a tower stump left in the forest.
• The walk up - around an hour on the trail from Vaduz.
• The valley view - the Rhine and Vaduz Castle from the ruin.
• The abandonment - a castle empty since the fifteenth century.

When to go

April to October is the walking season. Autumn colour on the slope is good in October. Winter leaves the trail icy.

Practical notes

The ruin is fragmentary and the walk is the main part of the outing. The trail is steep in places. There is no interpretation at the site.

Nearby

Vaduz is below, and the Fürstensteig is above.

Key facts