Schlans Castle (Ruin)

The tower of Schlans is located in the municipality of Trun in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The tower is situated above the village center on an elongated rock ridge above the 17th-century church of Sta. Maria dalla Neiv.

The massive tower, with a square base (side length 8.5 meters) and a wall thickness of over two meters, consists of regularly layered rubble stone with large bossed corner ashlar blocks with carefully dressed edges. Three stories have been preserved. The restored elevated entrance is on the southwest side on the 3rd floor. Apart from a few narrow slit windows, there are no openings or signs of living facilities. The actual living quarters must therefore have been in a wooden superstructure. Traces of outbuildings and a curtain wall are missing.

The simple tower was likely the seat of a ministerialis of the Lords of Salons. It is not clear from the 14th-century documents whether the castle Sylans mentioned refers to the tower at Schlans or to the larger Salons complex above the village. In 1377, an estate called Quadra davos Kasteil was sold in Schlans. The name rather points to the square tower than to the extensive complex in Salons. For the history of the Lordship of Schlans, see the article about Salons Castle.