Blauenstein is a castle fort on a rocky outcrop north of Kleinlützel, Switzerland.
| Blauenstein | |
|---|---|
| Kleinlützel | |
 View of the castle ruins, 2018 | |
  Blauenstein  Blauenstein | |
| Coordinates | 47°25′53″N 7°24′58″E / 47.4315°N 7.4160°E |
| Type | hill castle |
| Code | CH-SO |
| Site information | |
| Condition | ruin |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
The castle was probably built in the thirteenth century. It suffered damage during the 1356 Basel earthquake[1] and was destroyed in 1411 by the forces of Basel during the Neuenstein War. There are only a few walls remaining today.[2]
As it was at the junction of important Roman pass on Blauenbergkette, the town 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]
References
edit- ^ "Blauen". (French) Chronologie jurassienne. 2009–2012. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Blauenstein". Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse. 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Geschichte". Municipality of Kleinlützel. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-15. Retrieved 2013-11-22.
- ^ "Alt Falkenstein (Balsthal)". Integrated Authority File. German National Library. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
Burgruine in der Klus bei Balsthal: auch gelegentlich (historisch) als Blauenstein bekannt nach Rutschmann von Blauenstein, dem kurz nach 1400 einige Zeit zumindest das benachbarte Schloss Neu-Falkenstein verpfändet war