Bellinzona's castles are considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. Castelgrande, standing atop its forbidding rocky hill, is the natural centre of the fortifications which together make up Bellinzona's barrage. Until the 13th century, fortifications were built only on this high site, difficult to reach from all sides; therefore, texts dating from the Middle Ages which mention a stronghold on a rock always refer to Castelgrande (also called Old Castle in the 14t,/15th centuries. Un Castle from 1506, and Saint Michael's Castle from 1818).
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