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The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona is a World Heritage Site protecting the ensemble of fortifications on a rocky hillock overlooking the Ticino Valley, in Bellinzona, Switzerland. The three castles are Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. All have defensive walls.
Castelgrande, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Author: Jungpionier (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Castelgrande is on the rocky peak. Defensive walls link it to Montebellow. Sasso Corbaro is a stand-alone castle to the southeast of the other two. Of the three, Castelgrande is the oldest. The site has been fortified by the Romans as early as the 1st century BC.
Reconstruction in the High Middle Ages make use of the existing Roman foundation. All that remains of the High Middle Ages fortifications are a few remnants of the wall. The castle as we see today dates from 1250 to 1500, when extensive renovations were carried out.
Montebello, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Author: Clemensfranz (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Montebello was built for the pro-Imperial Rusca family before 1313. Defensive walls connect it to Castelgrande. The present form dates to 1490. By the 19th century Montebello was falling apart. Restoration was carried out in 1902.
Sasso Corbaro is an isolated castle, standing on its own hillock on the southeast part of Bellinzona. Unlike Castelgrande and Montebello, it is not connected by the network of defensive walls. The oldest part of Sasso Corbaro was built in 1478 to strengthen the town's defences. By the early 20th century, it was in ruins, having been struck by lightning numerous times in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Sasso Corbaro, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Author: OVEDC (public domain)
Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 24th session of the World Heritage Committee in Cairns, Australia, on 27 November - 2 December, 2000.
World Heritage Site Inscription Details
Location: N46 11 35.304 E9 1 20.712 in Bellinzona, in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.Inscription Year: 2000
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: IV
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