Clan Rising
Longobard Tower today

Switzerland · Partial ruin

Longobard Tower

Hospental Castle (Langobarden Towers) is a medieval stone tower standing on a rocky outcrop above the village of Hospental in the canton of Uri, Switzerland. The 13th-century tower functioned as a watch tower and later as a prison; it is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1226

Its prime

1300

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1300

What Longobard Tower looked like in its prime.

A tall, rectangular single tower of irregular, roughly coursed grey fieldstone rising from a rocky promontory surrounded by conifer trees and grassy slopes. The tower has narrow vertical arrow-slit windows and a clearly elevated, tall first-floor entrance with a square-headed stone surround. A small projecting garderobe box is visible on the wall. The roof is crenellated at the third-floor level; traces indicate channels directed to a cistern below. Masonry shows rough mortar and varied stone sizes.

Its story

The story of Longobard Tower.

Hospental Castle, also called the Langobarden Towers, stands on a rocky outcrop above the village of Hospental in the canton of Uri. The tower, built of uncut stones, was erected in the 13th century for the Hospental family, originally serving as a watch tower and later as a prison.

It was built with a tall entrance at first-floor level, and the garderobe, the positions of the fireplaces and an artificially cut defensive ditch are still clearly visible. Rain water from the crenellated roof on the third floor was collected in a cistern. The ruin is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1300.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Longobard Tower, including 4 interiors: first-floor entrance, upper chamber with fireplace locations, cistern and rainwater collection and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the valleyFirst-floor entranceExternal garderobe projectionCrenellated roof and parapetUpper chamber with fireplace locationsCistern and rainwater collectionArtificial ditch and rock baseSmall prison chamber

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Whose castle

Clans who held Longobard Tower.

The families that held Longobard Tower for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Hospental

    The tower was erected in the 13th century for the Hospental family as a watch tower.

Questions about Longobard Tower

What is the history of Longobard Tower?

Longobard Tower was built in the 13th century for the Hospental family as a watch tower. It later possibly served as a prison, and it was no longer inhabited from the 15th century. The tower gradually fell into disrepair before being extensively restored in 1898.

What is inside Longobard Tower?

Inside Longobard Tower, the surviving features include the first-floor high entrance, fireplace locations, a small prison chamber and a cistern. Rainwater was collected from the crenellated roof in the cistern. An internal upper chamber with fireplace locations is also documented.

Why was Longobard Tower built, and what was it used for?

Longobard Tower was built as a watch tower for the Hospental family and later served as a prison. It was not intended as a customs facility or primarily to control access along the passes. Its tall first-floor entrance and artificial defensive ditch supported its defensive function.

Where is Longobard Tower?

Longobard Tower stands above the village of Hospental in the canton of Uri. It is positioned on an exposed rocky plateau in the Urserental, with the Furkareuss and Gotthardreuss nearby. Hospental is the nearest named settlement in the supplied material.

When was Longobard Tower built?

Longobard Tower was built in the 13th century. The first-raised year is given as 1226, which falls within that century. It is a medieval stone tower constructed from uncut stones.

Which family or clan held Longobard Tower?

Longobard Tower was erected for the Hospental family. It originally served as a watch tower before later being used as a prison.

What did Longobard Tower look like in its prime?

Longobard Tower was a tall, rectangular single tower made of irregular, roughly coursed grey fieldstone. It stood on a rocky promontory, with narrow vertical arrow-slit windows and a high first-floor entrance. A garderobe projected from the wall, while the roof had crenellation at third-floor level.

Is Longobard Tower still standing, or is it a ruin?

Longobard Tower is a partial ruin that still stands. It gradually became dilapidated after it was no longer inhabited from the 15th century, but it was extensively restored in 1898. The surviving structure includes the tower, its high entrance, garderobe, fireplace locations, defensive ditch and cistern.

Can you visit Longobard Tower?

Longobard Tower can be visited as an accessible historic site. Its viewing platform is open throughout the year, and 80 steps lead to it at a height of 17 metres. The platform overlooks the Urserental and the settlements of Andermatt, Hospental and Realp.

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