Castle Rietberg

Thanks to Conrad Ferdinand Meyer's novel “Jürg Jenatsch”, Rietberg Castle, more than almost any other castle in the canton of Graubünden, has become known far beyond the country's borders.

The history of the fortress, whose name is derived from the former marshy meadows in the surrounding area, begins with the construction of the imposing five-storey castle tower, which was probably built by the Lords of Rietberg in the second half of the 12th century. They first appear in the documents in 1268 with Ulrich and Simon von Rietberg as the owners of a small lordship, to which the family was able to acquire further rights in the surrounding area and the castle of Oberjuvalta by the 14th century.

The fate of Pompejus Planta

Johannes, the last male descendant of the von Rietbergs, bequeathed his estate to his cousin Hermann von Landenberg. From the end of the 14th century onwards, the bishop pledged the castle to various families in turn. Around the middle of the 16th century, the seat passed to a branch of the von Salis family and was divided in 1617 between Herkules von Salis and Pompejus von Planta, whose wife Catherina was a Salis-Rietberg.

Together with his brother Rudolf, who lived on Wildenberg near Zernez, Pompejus von Planta was the leader of the Spanish-Austrian party during the Grisons turmoil. In 1618, at the request of the Venetian-minded opposing party led by the prebendaries, he was banished forever in absentia by the dubious Thusen criminal court and his assets confiscated. After the cruel murder of the Valtellina and the occupation of the Valtellina by Spain, the Lord of Rietberg dared to return. But the opposing party did not remain idle. On February 25, 1621, a group calling themselves “the good-hearted”, led by Georg Jenatsch, invaded Rietberg, slew the hated lord of the castle in the presence of his daughter and tore his heart and intestines out of his body. Tradition still shows the spot in the castle where the murderers executed their victim.

In 1664, Anton von Salis sold his share of Rietberg to Colonel Christoph von Rosenroll from Thusis, whose sons sold it to Ulrich Buol von Dusch in 1670. In 1758, the Buol-Schauenstein family also acquired the Planta share, but in 1798 Johann von Buol-Schauenstein sold Rietberg to his brother, Bishop Karl Rudolf von Buol of Chur. At the beginning of the 19th century, Rietberg passed to Countess Emilie von Travers and changed hands several times until it was acquired by Pastor Christian Casparis in 1822. From his descendants, the castle passed by marriage to the Rudolf Planta-Casparis family in 1917, who still look after it with great taste today.

Design from the 17th century

The western features of the entire complex were preserved in the 17th century. This applies to the keep, which dates back to the 12th century and, as the chronicler Sererhard notes, is a rather extraordinarily thick masonry structure. Its interior and attic with the typical “ox eyes” date back to the 17th century. The tower with keyhole embrasures, which was built in the courtyard above the rock-cut cistern, and the residential buildings on the edge of the ravine were also built at the same time, incorporating older parts.

Spend the night in the castle
Have you always wanted to spend the night in a castle? This is possible in a very exclusive, lavishly renovated castle residence in Rietberg Castle. You can find more information here.

Access

Rietberg Castle is privately owned and is only accessible on request. The castle is located directly on the Domleschg Castle Trail.