Castel Grande, Bellinzona, Switzerland

Castelgrande (Castel Grande) is the largest and oldest of the three castles of Bellinzona, the capital of the canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland. It stands on a rocky hill above the old town, where the valley narrows on the routes to the Gotthard, Lukmanier and San Bernardino passes, which is why the site was fortified as early as Roman times. The castle we see today was built mainly between the 13th and 15th centuries, when the Dukes of Milan strengthened Bellinzona against the Swiss Confederates.

Its two square towers, the Torre Bianca and the Torre Nera, rise above wide lawns enclosed by crenellated walls, and from the castle the Murata wall once ran across the valley to the Ticino River. Since 2000 Castelgrande, the castles of Montebello and Sasso Corbaro and the town walls have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle was restored by the architect Aurelio Galfetti, whose modern lift through the rock links Piazza del Sole with the castle.

Visitor Information

The courtyards and ramparts of Castelgrande are free to visit and offer wide views of the old town, the other two castles and the mountains. The museum in the south wing tells the history of Bellinzona from prehistoric times and displays painted ceiling panels from the 15th century, and the towers and the Murata can also be climbed.

The museum costs about CHF 15; the Fortezza Pass for the museums and towers of all three castles costs CHF 28 (reduced CHF 18, family ticket CHF 70), and children under 6 enter free. From 28 March to 8 November 2026 the castles are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30); from 9 November until mid-March only Castelgrande is open, from 10:30 to 16:00. The lift from Piazza del Sole saves the climb up the hill.

Castelgrande is a 10-minute walk from Bellinzona railway station. Trains through the Gotthard Base Tunnel reach Bellinzona from Zurich in under two hours, and Lugano is about 20 minutes away. A footpath leads from the old town up to Montebello and Sasso Corbaro, so all three castles can be visited in one day.