Castelgrande
Castle site
46°11′34.40″N 9°01′20.40″E
The site of Castelgrande has been fortified since at least the late 1st century BC and until the 13th century, it was the only fortification in Bellinzona. During its history, the castle has been known as “the stronghold” (before the 13th century), the Old Castle (14–15th centuries), Uri Castle after 1506, and Saint Michael's Castle from 1818.
The Castelgrande hill includes a near-vertical side on the north, a steep southern side, and is nearly flat and 150–200 meters (490–660 ft) in diameter. The natural shape of the hill has encouraged every manmade fortification to follow the same contours. While the Roman fort is not visible, the Roman foundations were followed in building the castle during the High Middle Ages. Of that period’s structure, the only remaining visible parts are bits of standing wall. Much of the visible castle dates from 1250–1500, with extensive renovations and some expansion in the last two centuries. Most of the area inside the castle walls is now flat, open space.
WikipediaWebsite:https://fortezzabellinzona.ch/scoprire-castel-grande/
