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The Bellinzona Fortress and its castles

Hiking Trail recommended route Hiking Trail  · Bellinzona and Valleys

The Bellinzona Fortress and its castles

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  • The Fortress of Bellinzona
    The Fortress of Bellinzona
    Photo: Parisiva, Bellinzona e Valli Turismo

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    Set off to discover the Bellinzona Fortress with its three castles, walls, and ramparts. With Castel Grande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro, you will take a plunge into the past, when dukes and confederates challenged each other wearing shining armors. Walking along the wall and passing through small carved doors in the rampart, you can discover secret rooms and imagine what life must have been like back then.

    easy
    Distance 5.5 km
    1:50 h
    280 m
    280 m
    459 m
    225 m

    This circular route leads to the discovery of the Bellinzona Fortress, included in 2000 in the UNESCO World Heritage list and built by the Dukes of Milan, around the 1400s, to prevent the Swiss Confederates from advancing south. Bellinzona was indeed in a strategic position at the intersection of alpine routes between north and south (Saint Gotthard, Lukmanier, San Bernardino, Novena).

    The route starts from Viale Portone and following the rampart you reach Castel Grande with its two towers (Black Tower and White Tower), a historical-artistic museum as well as exhibitions, a panoramic grotto and a restaurant. For the descent, there are two options: by elevator you reach Piazza del Sole and then Piazza Collegiata entering Via Codeborgo, or descending the stairs from Castel Grande which leads to Piazza Collegiata. Climbing up the narrow alley next to the homonymous church you can reach the Montebello Castle located on the hill opposite.

    After visiting the middle Castle and its Archaeological Museum, continue on Via Artore for a short stretch of road, then cross a stream and reach Via Piumerino. Climbing a steep staircase you reach the village of Artore. Passing in front of the Church of San Sebastiano, you reach the washhouse and walking along a cobbled path you reach the asphalt road Via alla Predella. Continuing to the right you reach the Grotto dei Pacifici reaching the splendid fortress of Sasso Corbaro. From this height, you enjoy a wonderful view of the city and the Magadino Plain up to Lake Maggiore. From the castle, exiting through a small carved door in the wall, continue the descent towards Montebello Castle. Just before the manor, the mule track on the left returns to the starting point passing through the Historic Center of Bellinzona.

    Author’s recommendation

    To enjoy the route, we recommend purchasing the official maps from the Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo. Additionally, the website map.geo.admin.ch offers constantly updated data.

    Profile picture of Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo
    Author
    Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo
    Logo Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
    Responsible for this content
    Bellinzona e Valli Turismo  Verified partner 
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    459 m
    Lowest point
    225 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 47.14%Forested/wild trail 3.04%Path 17.40%Road 32.09%Unknown 0.31%
    Asphalt
    2.6 km
    Forested/wild trail
    167 m
    Path
    952 m
    Road
    1.8 km
    Unknown
    17 m
    Show elevation profile

    Rest stops

    Hotel Bellinzona Sud (Bike friendly)
    Marchè Bellinzona Sud (Bike friendly)
    Villa del Gusto (Bike friendly)
    Hotel Unione (Bike friendly)
    Hotel & SPA Internazionale (Bike friendly)
    Camping Bellinzona (Bike friendly)
    Capanna Cremorasco (Bike friendly)
    Ostello Montebello (Bike friendly)
    Hotel La Tureta (Bike friendly)

    Safety information

    Montagnepulite: This project was created to promote the effective and sustainable management of alpine huts in the Ticino region. In particular, the management of waste. Responsible waste management in the mountains is a matter of common sense. All of us can contribute: www.montagnepulite.ch

    Tips and suggestions

    Alternative return path: after Sasso Corbaro Castle, follow the asphalt road and at the first fork turn left. Continue walking until you face a series of hairpin bends that lead to the locality of Ravecchia on Via Ospedale. Continue along the street running along the Dragonato stream until the main road, Via Franco Zorzi, and turn right. Walking straightforward and crossing the suggestive historic center of Bellinzona, you will return to Piazza del Sole.

    Listen to the podcast: The Bellinzona Fortress and its castles

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    Photo
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    Chiesa di San Barnárd
    Funivia Monte Carasso - Curzútt - Mornena
    E-Bike charging point - Monte Carasso
    Hotel Bellinzona Sud (Bike friendly)
    Castel Grande and the wall
    Museo di Castelgrande
    Marchè Bellinzona Sud (Bike friendly)
    Villa del Gusto (Bike friendly)
    Hotel Unione (Bike friendly)
    E-Bike charging point - Bellinzona
    Castle of Montebello
    Archeologia Montebello
    Hotel & SPA Internazionale (Bike friendly)
    Camping Bellinzona (Bike friendly)
    E-Bike charging point - Arbedo-Castione
    E-Bike charging point - Lumino
    Castle of Sasso Corbaro
    Capanna Cremorasco (Bike friendly)
    Ostello Montebello (Bike friendly)
    BikePort - Guiding, rental & consulting
    Hotel La Tureta (Bike friendly)
    Chiesa di S. Martino
    Villa dei Cedri Museum
    Teleferica Camorino - Monti di Croveggia
    E-Bike charging point - Giubiasco - FFS

    Public transport

    Public-transport-friendly

    Parking

    Piazza del Sole Parkplace.

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'721'897E 1'116'996N
    DD
    46.193393, 9.017726
    DMS
    46°11'36.2"N 9°01'03.8"E
    UTM
    32T 501367 5115535
    w3w 
    ///fuss.frosted.invents
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    • Trekking boots
    • Hat
    • Water bottle
    • Sunglasses
    • Sunscreen
    • Hiking map
    • Camera
    • Food

    Localization

    Parts of this content were machine translated using Italian as the source language

    Similar routes nearby

    • Amazing architecture
    • Via della pietra - Living with the stone
    • Trans Swiss Trail – Stage 29: Bellinzona – Tesserete
    • Motto della Croce
    • ViaGottardo – Stage 16: Bellinzona – Tesserete
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    5.5 km
    Duration
    1:50 h
    Ascent
    280 m
    Descent
    280 m
    Highest point
    459 m
    Lowest point
    225 m
    Public-transport-friendly Round trip Family-friendly Cultural/historical interest

    Weather at the starting point

    10-day forecast

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