Schloss Marschlins

Schloss Marschlins is a castle in Igis, a village in the municipality of Landquart in the canton of Graubünden, on the edge of the Rhine valley. It sits on a slope above the plain, set among fields and woodland, with views across the valley towards the mountains of the Prättigau and the Rätikon range. The area is part of the Bündner Herrschaft, the winegrowing district that stretches north towards Maienfeld, so the approach to the castle passes through the same vine-covered hillsides that give the region its reputation.

The castle's origins are medieval, and its long life as a noble residence is typical of the many fortified houses that guarded the routes through Graubünden. Over the centuries it was altered, and what remains today is a mix of defensive and residential architecture, with a tower and thick walls alongside later additions that made the building more comfortable as a country seat. The property passed to the Salis family, one of the leading families of the Three Leagues, the old Alpine republic from which the modern canton developed.

Marschlins has a place in Swiss intellectual history. In the later eighteenth century Ulysses von Salis-Marschlins, a statesman and educator, established a school in the castle on the lines of the Enlightenment philanthropic movement, offering a modern education to the sons of Graubünden's elite. He also took an interest in agriculture and botany. The school had a short life, but it gave Marschlins a reputation as a place of new ideas in a mountainous region often seen as remote.

The castle is a quieter heritage stop rather than a major attraction. It is best appreciated from the outside and from its grounds, and visitors should check locally before planning a visit, since access depends on the owners and on events. It suits history enthusiasts, cyclists and walkers exploring the Rhine valley, and travellers who like to combine a castle with wine tasting in the surrounding villages.

A good way to include it in a trip is to base yourself in Landquart or Chur, both well connected by rail, and to explore the Bündner Herrschaft by bicycle or on foot, stopping at wine estates and village squares. Maienfeld, the town linked to the Heidi stories, is a short distance away and fits naturally into the same day.