World Heritage Photos

Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Bellinzona is famous for its Defensive Wall and Three Castles, Castelgrande Castle, Montebello Castle and Sasso Corbaro Castle, the castles are unique in the Alpine areas. Castelgrande Castle was built in the 12th century, it stands on a rock 50 metres above the town of Bellinzona. Castelgrande can be reached by a footpath, by a road or a modern lift. Montebello Castle stands on a hill 90 metres above Castelgrande. Montebello Castle was built in the 13th century. The 15th century Sasso Corbaro was built on an isolated rock, the castle stands 230 metres above the town of Bellinzona. The three castles, the defensive wall and ramparts of the market-town of Bellinzona are situated in and around Bellinzona, the capital city of Ticino, the the southernmost canton of Switzerland. The fortifications of Bellinzona are situated on strategic locations in the Swiss Alps, the fortifications are among the most important examples of medieval defensive architecture in Europe. Bellinzona is located in the south of Switzerland, about 50 km from the UNESCO World Heritage Monte San Giorgio. The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona were declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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1. 

   Castelgrande Castle seen from the Montebello Castle. The 13th century Castelgrande is one of the three castles of Bellinzona. Castelgrande Castle is also known as Castello di San Michele or Burg Uri. The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

2. 

   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Castelgrande was built in the 12th century. Castelgrande stands on a rock 50 metres above the the market-town of Bellinzona. The castle Castelgrande can be reached by a steep, narrow footpath or by road. Castelgrande can also be reached by a modern lift.

3. 

   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Castelgrande Castle, the Torre Bianca and Torre Nera, the White Tower and Black Tower. The towers were built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The White Tower and Black Tower of Castelgrande Castle are twenty seven metres and twenty eight metres high.

4. 

   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: One of the three courtyards of Castelgrande Castle. The walls that separate the courtyards were built in the 14th century and the western walls of the castle were connected to the town walls. The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of Bellinzona are situated near the Ticino Valley in the Swiss Alps.

5. 

   The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of Bellinzona: Castelgrande Castle viewed from Montebello Castle, on the left hand side a part of the defensive wall, the 'Murata'. Castelgrande Castle was built in the 12th century. The circular enclosure of Castelgrande Castle is divided into courtyards by three walls.

6. 

   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: The 'Murata' viewed from Castelgrande Castle. The 'Murata' is the massive, defensive wall at the western extremity of Castelgrande. The 'Murata' was built atop of a rocky ridge in the 15th century, it was part of the fortifications of the town Bellinzona.

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   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: One of the huge defensive towers of Montebello. The castle is connected to Castelgrande and Sasso Corbaro Castle by a defensive wall, the 'Murata'. Montebello, unlike Sasso Corbaro and Castelgrande, was also defended by ditches. Montebello houses a museum with archaeology and weaponry.

8. 

   The Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Montebello Castle and the fortified wall. Montebello Castle is also known as Schwyz Castle or San Martino. The fortifications of the market town of Bellinzona are among the most important examples of medieval defensive architecture in Europe. Bellinzona is situated in the south of Switzerland.

9. 

   Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: The 15th century gateway of Montebello Castle. Montebello was built in the 13th century and expanded between 1462 and 1490 to its current state. Montebello Castle is named after the hill on which it stands. Montebello is situated 90 metres above Castelgrande.

10. 

    The courtyard of Montebello Castle viewed from the castle wall walk. The castle was expanded in the 15th century, the inner keep dates from before 1313. Montebello Castle is surrounded by defensive walls and a deep moat. The three castles of Bellinzona are among the best preserved medieval castles in Switzerland.

11. 

    Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Montebello Castle, Castelgrande Castle and the connecting wall viewed from Sasso Corbaro Castle. Today, Castelgrande houses an art museum and an archaeological museum. Bellinzona is famous for its defensive wall, its ramparts and three castles: Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro.

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    Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Montebello Castle viewed from Sasso Corbaro Castle. Sasso Corbaro is situated 230 metres above the town of Bellinzona, the dominant position of the castle meant a better protection of the Ticino Valley and Bellinzona. Bellinzona is the capital city of Ticino, the southernmost canton in Switzerland.

13. 

    Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: The fortified wall between the three castles Montebello, Castelgrande and Sasso Corbaro. Sasso Corbaro Castle is situated on an isolated rock. The three castles, defensive wall and ramparts of the market town of Bellinzona were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

14. 

    Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: The 15th century Castello di Sasso Corbaro, Sasso Corbaro Castle. Sasso Corbaro Castle is surrounded by massive walls, some parts of the walls are 4.70 metres thick. Sasso Corbaro Castle stands on the highest point of a wooded hillside near the market town of Bellinzona.

15. 

    Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona: Sasso Corbaro Castle was built on an isolated rock. The lookout tower on the south side of the castle is almost completely intact and offers breathtaking views of the Ticino Valley and the three castles of the market town of Bellinzona. Sasso Corbaro was once known as Unterwalden or Santa Barbara.