Few fortresses in Switzerland dominate a landscape as prominently as the mighty Castle of Tarasp. Built on a one hundred metres high rock, the fortress overlooks the hamlet at the foot of the castle hill and its white walls are reflected in the lake of Tarasp.
In the first half of the 11th century, the lords of Tarasp took up residence here after having moved from the region of Lake of Como to the Engadine. In 1239, the fortress fell to the Counts of Tyrol. Since the Lower Engadine belonged to the Diocese of Chur, there followed several violent conflicts between the Counts of Tyrol, the Grisons and the bishops of Chur over the castle’s ownership and hegemony in the Lower Engadine. As from 1464, Tarasp was an Austrian county, even today the palace wall flaunts the imperial eagle and a writing says «Hie Estereih». In the course of the 16th century, the complex was enlarged to its present size and converted to a frontier fortress.