Schauenstein Castle

The Upper or Schauenstein Castle, like the Lower Castle, dates back to a defence element of the episcopal castle town of the Middle Ages. The barons of Schauenstein, who owned rich estates on Heinzenberg and in Domleschg, made the former fortress tower the cornerstone of the castle they built between 1667 and 1676.

On the portal of the west wing, the initials and alliance coat of arms of Baron Johann Rudolf and his wife Emilie, née Molina, are a reminder of the builders of the complex alongside the year 1667. The last of the Schauenstein family sold the castle and estate to Carl Ulysses von Stampa in 1732. After the great fire of 1742, which also left this castle in ruins, only the eastern part was restored to its stately splendour, while the western part was given a much simpler design.

From manor house to boarding school...

In 1769, Barbara von Planta acquired Schauenstein Castle for her adventurous son, Major Friedrich von Planta. He brought with him, presumably from France, those delicious pastoral scenes painted on canvas in front of fine landscapes, which still adorn the walls of the hall in the east wing today and characterise its homely atmosphere.

The manor house of the restless "Ziska", as Friedrich von Planta was commonly known by his nickname, soon passed to the envoy Peter Conradin von Planta. After his death, his widow had the west wing turned into a boarding school where Romansh and Italian-speaking pupils could prepare for entry to the cantonal school. However, the school was closed again in 1840 and Schauenstein was left to its fate until 1865, when it was bought by Peter von Planta, who also acquired the episcopal castle in 1876.

... to an artists' and gourmet house

Peter's most famous son, Robert, succeeded his father as owner of Schauenstein. He had the castle completely renovated between 1910 and 1912 and turned it into a popular meeting place for artists and scientists of distinction. The centre of the intellectual circle was always the learned and hospitable landlord. A few years after Robert's death in 1937, Gaudenz von Planta sold the residence to Rudolf Schoeller in 1941, who sold it to Emser Werke in 1961. Today, the castle is run as a restaurant and hotel with 19 Gault Millau points by celebrity chef Andreas Caminada as an internationally recognised gourmet establishment.

Access

Schauenstein Castle is used as a restaurant and hotel. The complex is located directly on the Domleschg Castle Trail.