Abandoned Castles and Fortresses That Look Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

18. Tarasp Castle, Switzerland – Alpine Sentinel

Crowning a rugged bluff in the Lower Engadine Valley, Tarasp Castle rises like a stone mirage above alpine meadows and icy blue lakes. Built in the 11th century by the Lords of Tarasp, the fortress passed through the hands of Austrians, Swiss reformers, and even artists like Karl August Lingner, the inventor of Odol mouthwash, who began restoring the structure in the early 20th century. Though now part museum and part private residence, large swaths of the castle remain untouched—echoes of battles, exiles, and noble ambitions still embedded in its thick walls and vaulted ceilings. The journey to Tarasp involves a steep hike or a winding drive, rewarding visitors with panoramic views that stretch across the Alps. The castle’s inner courtyard, ancient chapel, and armory tell stories of both grandeur and isolation. At dusk, when fog rolls in and bells toll from distant valleys, Tarasp feels less like a historical site and more like a memory the mountains never forgot.