Blauenstein | |
Built: | 13th century |
Type: | hill castle |
Condition: | ruin |
Location: | Kleinlützel |
Coordinates: | 47.4315°N 7.416°W |
Map Type: | Canton of Solothurn#Switzerland |
Code: | CH-SO |
Blauenstein is a castle fort on a rocky outcrop north of Kleinlützel, Switzerland.
The castle was probably built in the thirteenth century and destroyed in 1411 by the forces of Basel during the Neuenstein War. There are only a few walls remaining today.[1] The castle suffered further damage during the 1356 Basel earthquake.[2]
As it was at the junction of important Roman pass on Blauenbergkette, the city of Kleinlützel proposes Roman origins for the castle.[3]
This castle should not be confused with Alt-Falkenstein Castle near Balsthal, neighboring Neu-Falkenstein Castle, as Alt-Falkenstein was historically also known as Blauenstein and appears under that name on historical images, probably because at least Neu-Falkenstein was pledged to Rutschmann of Blauenstein for some time around 1400.[4]