Schloss Blatten

Schloss Blatten is located in the municipality of Oberriet in Switzerland. The castle was built during the Middle Ages by a European civilization active in the region, associated with both secular and ecclesiastical authorities.

The earliest recorded connections to the site date back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries, when individuals bearing the names Burkardus de Blattûn in 1170 and Ulricus de Blattenn in 1229 were documented. These early mentions suggest the presence of a local noble family linked to the location before the existing stone castle was constructed.

Around the year 1270, the castle was established by Berchtold von Falkenstein, the abbot of the influential Abbey of St. Gallen. This fortress was intended as a defensive stronghold against the Counts of Montfort-Werdenberg, regional rivals at the time. Shortly thereafter, in 1277, the castle was granted to Ulrich von Ramschwag, following the territory’s assignment in 1278 to Heinrich Walter von Ramschwag. This reward was given in recognition of support rendered to King Rudolf at the Battle on the Marchfeld, a key conflict in Central European history.

During the 15th century, Schloss Blatten experienced political turbulence. The castle and its associated lordship were confiscated temporarily because of their involvement in the regional conflict known as the Appenzeller War. In 1458, Walter Heinrich and Ulrich von Ramschwag sold the estate to Jakob Mangold, a prominent citizen from the nearby city of Konstanz. However, this ownership change was reversed in 1486 when Abbot Ulrich Rösch of St. Gallen repurchased the castle, returning it to ecclesiastical control.

The 17th century brought a phase of renovation when Abbot Pius Reher, reigning between 1637 and 1640, undertook repairs and improvements. Following these efforts, Schloss Blatten functioned as the administrative center for the bailiffs of Kriessern, maintaining this role until the upheavals of 1798.

The castle was destroyed during military actions in 1799 amid the French War. Later, in the early 20th century, around 1911, parts of the ruins were quarried for stone, contributing to the site’s partial degradation. Restoration and preservation initiatives from the mid-20th century onward, led by the canton of St. Gallen, have focused on stabilizing the remaining tower and surrounding structures, ensuring the site’s survival into the present day.