page_title: Tarasp Castle
section_title: Castle site
hierarchical_section_title: Tarasp Castle / Castle site
caption_attribution_description: English: Plan of Tarasp Castle in Graubunden, Switzerland. Based on the drawing at Burgenwelt.org
context_page_description: Tarasp Castle is a castle in Switzerland, near the former municipality of Tarasp, in Lower Engadin, Graubünden. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
context_section_description: The first fortifications on the site were a ring wall and part of the chapel and its bell tower.  In the 13th century a large palas with 2 meters (6.6 ft) thick walls was built west of the chapel, becoming the center of the castle.  The residential wings probably were also built in the 13th century.  In the 16th and 17th centuries the castle was attacked several times and burned twice.  The residence wings in particular were rebuilt and renovated several times during those centuries.  The lower floors were given vaulted ceilings, new windows were cut through the rock walls and they were decorated in wood.
  The chapel was integrated into the ring wall that surrounds the castle.  The apse was decorated with 12th century paintings, of which only fragments remain.  The interior was renovated in the 17th century.  The free standing bell tower was probably built as a combination church tower and watch tower.  It is five stories tall and crowned with a Baroque onion dome.
  The zwinger (outer courtyard) and two half towers were probably built in the 16th century to protect the castle from attack.
  The castle was renovated in 1714-15 and again in 1732.
  The exterior walls are covered in white plaster and were decorated with coats of arms from the late 15th century.  These paintings were still visible in 1900 but have since faded.  However, a few were restored in recent restoration projects.
  When Dr. Karl Lingner bought the castle in 1900, he undertook a complete restoration of the castle under the guidance of Professor Rudolf Rahn.  He placed a large organ, built by Jehmlich of Dresden, in the old armory.  He purchased furniture from noble houses scattered throughout Graubünden and Tyrol to furnish the castle.  However, he died unexpectedly on 5 June 1916 without ever living in the castle.
caption: Plan of Tarasp Castle
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