Schloss Tarasp

About the museum

The lords of Tarasp, who had come to the Engadine from the Lake Como region, built the castle around the year 1040. In 1239 the fortress passed to the counts of Tyrol, and from 1464 Tarasp was an Austrian domain. In the 16th century the owners expanded the complex into a border fortress. Only in 1803 did Napoleon assign Tarasp, one of the last Austrian enclaves on present-day Swiss soil, to the Helvetic Republic. In the following decades the castle changed owners several times and gradually fell into decay.

In the summer of 1900, Karl August Lingner, the Dresden industrialist and inventor of the mouthwash Odol, came to Vulpera for a cure. He bought the ruin and had it elaborately restored; for this he acquired wood paneling and furniture from Graubünden patrician houses, Tyrolean manor houses and Germany. In 1916 he had an organ by the Dresden firm Jehmlich installed in the former armory, today's music room, which is considered the largest organ in private ownership in Europe. Lingner died that same year. Because the last Saxon king declined the inheritance, the castle passed to Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse.

The Hesse family owned Tarasp until 2016. On March 30, 2016, the artist Not Vital, originally from Sent, bought the castle. Today it is part of his foundation, which also includes the Parkin sculpture park in Sent and the Plantahaus in Ardez; in addition to the historic furnishings, it houses a collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art. The castle can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

Highlights

• Castle complex from the 11th century on a rocky hill above the Lower Engadine
• Historic rooms with wood paneling and furniture from the Lingner era
• Jehmlich organ from 1916, the largest organ in private ownership in Europe
• Collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art of the Not Vital Foundation
• Castle and art tours, audio guide in four other languages
• Café Schleppun with books and ceramics

Permanent exhibition

• Schlossräume und Kunstsammlung – The tour through the historically furnished rooms with the Lingner organ in the music room connects the history of the castle with works of ancient, modern and contemporary art from the collection of the Not Vital Foundation.

Operated by

Stiftung Not Vital

Admission & discounts

Prices for the public castle tour. Payment in cash or by credit card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The castle is not accessible; the walk from the parking lot or the PostBus stop takes about 20 minutes. More detailed information is available by email from the castle administration.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car from the north via the Vereina car shuttle or over the Flüela Pass; from the east via Landeck toward St. Moritz; from the south over the Reschen or Ofen Pass.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Schleppun with a simple menu, plus sales of books, ceramics and other gift items; in 2026 open from June 2 to November 1, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit