If you are looking for an early version of a toll booth, the castles of Bellinzona should give you a good idea. They were built at a strategic location, a narrow alpine valley, through which multiple alpine trading routes passed. At its height in the 15th century the fortifications cut along the full width of the valley enforcing the collection of tolls for all traders passing by.

The main castle, Castelgrande, sits right in the middle of the valley on a hill. The panoramic views you get with the Alps as backdrop are breathtaking. Already the Romans had built a castle here.

The two smaller castles rise up from the valley on two neighboring hills, with Castello Sasso Corbaro on top. I would assume these were build to protect the flanks of the main castle and the profits the toll booth brought.

During my visit I managed to see the two lower castles, i.e. Castelgrande and Castelle di Montebello. Admittedly, Montebello feels more authentic, but I had little objection to the state of repairs of Castelgrande.

This is the second trip in a row that ended with me climbing castle walls. Both times I really enjoyed the experience. With very limited knowledge of military engineering, I would argue that the English castles in Gywnedd are superior to their Swiss counterparts.

Getting There and Away

Bellinzona is well accessible by train. The castles are within walking distance of the station, albeit some climbing is required, specifically if you want to see Castello Sasso Corbaro.

Multiple WHS are nearby. Monte San Giorgio can be reached by local train, but may require an extensive hike from the train station in Mendrisio. Near Como and Varese you will find two of the Sacri Montis. Finally, on the Lago di Varese you can enjoy more Pile Dwellings if you are into that.

Milan is also connected by direct train and from there all of Northern Italy with its plentiful world heritage sites opens up to you. If you are having problems getting an Italian ticket in Switzerland, the Italian rail website is really easy to use, so you can buy and download a ticket there.

Notes

• Entry to the castles is free for holders of the Swiss Travel Pass. Some areas are free for all in any case, e.g. the premises of Castelgrande.
• By coincidence I got to traverse the Gotthard-Basis-Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel of our time.
• The old town and the baroque church are a nice addition to the site.
• An argument could be made to have a separate hotspot for the area.