Castel Grande
Castel Grande
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This beautiful medieval castle overlooking the city has been recently restored.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
535 reviews
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giro il mondo
Italy56 contributions
Dec 2023 • Business
You can get there via a lift that connects it to Piazza del Sole, where there is a very comfortable car park underneath. The castle is surrounded by meadows and fantastic battlements overlooking the city, the view is magnificent. Yes you also have the option of eating at the restaurant, but it's best to call first.
Written 1 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Weak Knee Traveler
Singapore, Singapore12,826 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
This is a really beautiful medieval castle which was built in the 13th century. Loved the long stretch of walls lining the rocky hill as well as the views of the township and other castles around it. Great views.
Written 23 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom H
Tallahassee, FL68 contributions
June 2022 • Family
Awesome castle to explore, DEFINITELY worth the trip from Lugano. Here is some stuff to know if you're not from Switzerland/Europe, especially any Americans like me who wasnt sure what to expect or how hard travel was going to be:
1) travel from Luguno (or anywhere in Switzerland): SUPER EASY, enough said. We're on day 4 of our trip and my 11 year old son now understands the trains well enough to manage our travel plans in Switz, it is incredibly easy. Buy the Swiss Travel Pass, and download the swiss train app, and you'll be good to go! BTW, in stwitz you just walk on a train with your pass, you dont scan it or anything, but when the conductor walks by you have to show them your tickets. You can take ANY train in switz if you have the travel pass, so dont stress out, just enjoy the ride!
2) Bellinzona: Absolutely beautiful city. Charming, and everywhere you look, looks like a postcard.
3) Castles: awesome, all 3 of the castles in Bellinzona can be seen in a day, and id recommend seeing the Sasso castle first (take the bus up there, just use the app), then walk down to montebello, then to castel grande.
4) safety: if you are new to traveling to europe, i know a lot of Americans always ask (or think to themselves) whether a city or other country is safe. In regards to switz, it is absolutely the safest place we've ever been. I would say its roughly 500x safer than my home in Florida lol. If you are worried about that with your travels, dont!
5) Tips: with the swiss travel pass, the castles are free to see (saves you 10Fr per person per castle). Also, we loved our time in Lugano but if i did it again, i'd of stayed in Bellinzona and taken the train to Lugano instead of visa versa. Lugano was amazing, but it has the feel of South Beach (miami), and we prefer the quiet picturesque feel of Bellinzona instead. Just our $0.02
Have fun and DEFINITELY SEE THESE CASTLES!
1) travel from Luguno (or anywhere in Switzerland): SUPER EASY, enough said. We're on day 4 of our trip and my 11 year old son now understands the trains well enough to manage our travel plans in Switz, it is incredibly easy. Buy the Swiss Travel Pass, and download the swiss train app, and you'll be good to go! BTW, in stwitz you just walk on a train with your pass, you dont scan it or anything, but when the conductor walks by you have to show them your tickets. You can take ANY train in switz if you have the travel pass, so dont stress out, just enjoy the ride!
2) Bellinzona: Absolutely beautiful city. Charming, and everywhere you look, looks like a postcard.
3) Castles: awesome, all 3 of the castles in Bellinzona can be seen in a day, and id recommend seeing the Sasso castle first (take the bus up there, just use the app), then walk down to montebello, then to castel grande.
4) safety: if you are new to traveling to europe, i know a lot of Americans always ask (or think to themselves) whether a city or other country is safe. In regards to switz, it is absolutely the safest place we've ever been. I would say its roughly 500x safer than my home in Florida lol. If you are worried about that with your travels, dont!
5) Tips: with the swiss travel pass, the castles are free to see (saves you 10Fr per person per castle). Also, we loved our time in Lugano but if i did it again, i'd of stayed in Bellinzona and taken the train to Lugano instead of visa versa. Lugano was amazing, but it has the feel of South Beach (miami), and we prefer the quiet picturesque feel of Bellinzona instead. Just our $0.02
Have fun and DEFINITELY SEE THESE CASTLES!
Written 26 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adsbaruf
Sydney, Australia266 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
You can visit three castles which are open every day in Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Castello Montebello and Castello Sasso Corbaro. There is a ticket for all 3 castles, museums, courts and towers but entry to the inner court of Castelgrande is free and was open from 9 am to 10 pm. I travelled with a group of friends in October, and this was a site we had planned to visit because it seemed interesting. When we got our first glimpse of Castelgrande and the other castles as we entered the town, it felt like we were in another era. Although it was overcast, this added more atmosphere, so this is a place to see at any time. Some of our group went by elevator and others took the stairs. No one was disappointed when we walked into the inner court of Castelgrande - we went in different directions to explore the grounds, climbed up a section of the tower and walked along part of the wall. Everywhere offered amazing views of the town and the other castles further up the mountain, which are part of a walking trail. This was a 'must see' location in the area.
Written 14 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Divya D
Zurich, Switzerland18 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
Bellinzona is probably Switzerland's most Italianate town. The skyline of the capital of Ticino is defined by the powerful fortifications, comprising three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The events and vicissitudes which unfolded against the backdrop of the fortifications of Bellinzona underline its military importance at precise moments of history. Bellinzona's castles are considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. And trust me, you will be lost in the beauty of the castle, in it's timeless history and get mesmerized by something that has stood the test of time and has its walls speaking history, every time you knock to them.
You can explore the impressive fortifications on foot; from the defensive walls to the top of the towers. Now here is a piece of caution, if you are something like me (lazy and rarely exercise), you can still explore them by foot but remember that the next morning will be very painful for the thighs and the feet, especially. But nevertheless, explore by foot only, its not to be missed. Check the weather for sure, if its raining, cover yourself and your kids properly, the breeze is very cold and there are chances of catching cold if it rains. A day is sufficient to explore the castles (and I mean all the 3) if you are not the hiking, trekking types. But in case you want to hike, book in a youth hostel, I stayed in one of them, they are good in terms of facilities, cleanliness and equipment and cost effective (which is more important) too. But I strongly recommend only a day trip, anything more than that will be repetitive and tiring.
SBB offers cheap tickets online and start in the morning, preferably. It costed me 50 CHF return along with the half fare card, so you see its really cheap. I started from Zurich at 5:51 AM and reached Bellinzona at 8:51 AM which gave me practically one full day to explore the castles and enjoy the natural beauty. You can plan your return anytime after 6 in the evening. There is fees for viewing the castles which is 5 CHF per person, per castle. If you are a couple take the 20 CHF (or may be 25 CHF, don't remember exactly) couple pass which gives you entry to all the castles and the in house museums inside the castles as well as a documentary on these medieval fortifications. The documentary is aired in English, German and Italian. And its highly recommended.
Each castle has something to offer to the tourist, especially the panoramic view from Castlegrande, its really grand and serene, check out for yourself. There are restaurants in the castle and you can have a great time dining there, unfortunately for us they were closed due to Easter holidays, so plan accordingly.
There are local help desks inside the castles and the ladies are a gem to talk to. They solve all your problems and make you feel at home. They give you the best deals available at that time and also maps so that you are not lost. And above all there are restrooms at proper places and that really saves you (imagine if you have a kid along)
I have rated them 5 stars for the hospitality offered, the deals, the serenity of the castles and the documentary which took me back in history and of course the neat and tidy restrooms (I hate to struggle with nature's call and thats the first thing I check whenever I travel).
Overall a good time spent with family, friends and even alone in the arms of nature
The events and vicissitudes which unfolded against the backdrop of the fortifications of Bellinzona underline its military importance at precise moments of history. Bellinzona's castles are considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. And trust me, you will be lost in the beauty of the castle, in it's timeless history and get mesmerized by something that has stood the test of time and has its walls speaking history, every time you knock to them.
You can explore the impressive fortifications on foot; from the defensive walls to the top of the towers. Now here is a piece of caution, if you are something like me (lazy and rarely exercise), you can still explore them by foot but remember that the next morning will be very painful for the thighs and the feet, especially. But nevertheless, explore by foot only, its not to be missed. Check the weather for sure, if its raining, cover yourself and your kids properly, the breeze is very cold and there are chances of catching cold if it rains. A day is sufficient to explore the castles (and I mean all the 3) if you are not the hiking, trekking types. But in case you want to hike, book in a youth hostel, I stayed in one of them, they are good in terms of facilities, cleanliness and equipment and cost effective (which is more important) too. But I strongly recommend only a day trip, anything more than that will be repetitive and tiring.
SBB offers cheap tickets online and start in the morning, preferably. It costed me 50 CHF return along with the half fare card, so you see its really cheap. I started from Zurich at 5:51 AM and reached Bellinzona at 8:51 AM which gave me practically one full day to explore the castles and enjoy the natural beauty. You can plan your return anytime after 6 in the evening. There is fees for viewing the castles which is 5 CHF per person, per castle. If you are a couple take the 20 CHF (or may be 25 CHF, don't remember exactly) couple pass which gives you entry to all the castles and the in house museums inside the castles as well as a documentary on these medieval fortifications. The documentary is aired in English, German and Italian. And its highly recommended.
Each castle has something to offer to the tourist, especially the panoramic view from Castlegrande, its really grand and serene, check out for yourself. There are restaurants in the castle and you can have a great time dining there, unfortunately for us they were closed due to Easter holidays, so plan accordingly.
There are local help desks inside the castles and the ladies are a gem to talk to. They solve all your problems and make you feel at home. They give you the best deals available at that time and also maps so that you are not lost. And above all there are restrooms at proper places and that really saves you (imagine if you have a kid along)
I have rated them 5 stars for the hospitality offered, the deals, the serenity of the castles and the documentary which took me back in history and of course the neat and tidy restrooms (I hate to struggle with nature's call and thats the first thing I check whenever I travel).
Overall a good time spent with family, friends and even alone in the arms of nature
Written 10 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indygo005
Dubai, United Arab Emirates353 contributions
July 2016 • Couples
The Unesco listed Castelgrande, standing atop its forbidding rocky hill, is the natural centre of the fortifications which together make up Bellinzona's defense.
Archaeological traces of more ancient settlements (prehistoric or Roman) have ben found and what little remains of the high Middle Ages (10th/12th centuries) is to be found in some pieces of wall still standing. The buildings were erected mostly between 1250 and 1500, and testify to a period of eventful building history, which encompassed not only renovations, extensions and reinforcement work, but also war damage, periods of neglect and demolition.
The vast, flattish peak of the hill, virtually inaccessible from the north because of the steep almost vertical rock formations and slightly more easily accessible from the south by means of steep flights of steps, is about 150-200 m in diameter. Its sloping terrace-like rock formations have meant that, in each era, manmade defence works have followed the natural contours of the rocky spur; most of the still existing late medieval wall stands, therefore, on the same foundations as the Roman walls.
Today, the easiest way to reach the Castle is to take the lift which carries you from the foot of the rock directly up into the castle grounds or a series of steep steps. The harder way to the top offers views over the town and the other 2 castles across he hill.
A good site to visit.
Archaeological traces of more ancient settlements (prehistoric or Roman) have ben found and what little remains of the high Middle Ages (10th/12th centuries) is to be found in some pieces of wall still standing. The buildings were erected mostly between 1250 and 1500, and testify to a period of eventful building history, which encompassed not only renovations, extensions and reinforcement work, but also war damage, periods of neglect and demolition.
The vast, flattish peak of the hill, virtually inaccessible from the north because of the steep almost vertical rock formations and slightly more easily accessible from the south by means of steep flights of steps, is about 150-200 m in diameter. Its sloping terrace-like rock formations have meant that, in each era, manmade defence works have followed the natural contours of the rocky spur; most of the still existing late medieval wall stands, therefore, on the same foundations as the Roman walls.
Today, the easiest way to reach the Castle is to take the lift which carries you from the foot of the rock directly up into the castle grounds or a series of steep steps. The harder way to the top offers views over the town and the other 2 castles across he hill.
A good site to visit.
Written 1 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff M
Phoenix, AZ10 contributions
Nov 2011
On a trip to Zurich, this was our fist outing from the city. We went to the train station and bought our Swiss 1/2 off pass and got a free pass for our son who is 11. We took a very comfortable Italian train down to Bellinzona, which was a 2.5 hour ride from Zurich. I wanted us to go specifically because my son was pretty bored here in Zurich and my wife and I wanted him to have a good experience on his first trip to Europe. The Castelgrande in Bellinzona did not disappoint. It is a very large castle, with many open, grassy areas and beautiful vistas from many points on the grounds. We climbed the stairs to the top of the white tower which gives you many vantage points of the whole city. You can see why the castle was built here, you can see the whole valley from many places in the castel. It is very well kept and clean, and best of all it's free! We didn't hit the museum because I think it was closed and plus my son was having so much fun running around pretending he was a knight ... fending off imaginary foes. There were many other kids there in groups and it was fun to hear them speaking either Italian or German (mostly Italian though as Bellinzona is on the Italian side of the Alps). I would say if you have kids and are in the area, you should definitely see this castle. Especially if you are from the USA, where we don't have medieval castles =)
Written 19 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FromAuw
Switzerland65 contributions
Castelgrande is the largest and most interesting castle of the three situated in Bellinzona, in Switzerland´s Ticino canton. If you are driving from Central Europe down to Italy, it is worthwhile to visit at least this castle, a well preserved Unesco World Heritage site.
Castelgrande is the lowest of the three castles and has museum with permanent and temporary displays. When we visited the castle there was an exhibtion of Otzi, the Italian/Austrian Ice Man.
We also hiked up to the second largest castle, Montebello. You can explore most of the towers and walls of both castles.
We did not go to the highest one, and I believe few people do.
You can have something to eat either in Castelgrande or in the city, that also has some buildings with interesting old architecture.
Castelgrande is the lowest of the three castles and has museum with permanent and temporary displays. When we visited the castle there was an exhibtion of Otzi, the Italian/Austrian Ice Man.
We also hiked up to the second largest castle, Montebello. You can explore most of the towers and walls of both castles.
We did not go to the highest one, and I believe few people do.
You can have something to eat either in Castelgrande or in the city, that also has some buildings with interesting old architecture.
Written 18 April 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perry H
San Diego, CA1,792 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
First castle as you look and go up the mountain. It has no parking of it's own so you can find places around. Then go to the old town side and take a lift all the way up or you can hike it. It's a very large Castle and grounds. Place opens for ground touring around 8 to 8:30 am. And buildings open around 10 am. Great shots of the town and other castles. This is good for all ages. Does have admission costs.
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tested Travel
100 contributions
Dec 2018
A half-hour train ride outside Locarno sits the town of Bellinzona and the Castles of Bellinzona. The site is composed of fortified walls and three castles named Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. Tested Travel visited the largest of these, Castelgrande, which is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley. What an amazing location (UNESCO World Heritage Site) -- lots of climbing and walking, but worth the effort. Plenty to see -- castel walls, keeps, caves, overlooks, etc. Read our full review at testedtravel.com
Written 11 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buongiorno, volevo sapere se siete aperti a Ferragosto. Grazie
Written 11 August 2018
Io non so risponderti ma, se fossi in te, cercherei sul sito....
Written 11 August 2018
Hi, I would like to know if the museum opens regurlary and how much it costs.
Written 22 September 2016
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