Grimmenstein Castle, located above St. Margrethen, was a dreaded nest for robber barons. The striking building was destroyed in 1416 and never rebuilt.
The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1254. In 1315, Abbot Heinrich von Ramstein of the St. Gallen monastery appointed the knight Wilhelm von Enne, who came from South Tyrol, as the new lord of the castle and bailiff on Grimmenstein.
The ecclesiastical rulers in St.Gallen and with them the Grimmenstein bailiffs increasingly harassed the population, which led to armed conflicts with the battles on Vögelinsegg and on the Stoss. In the course of hostilities, the castle was finally destroyed in 1416.
The ruin was then used as a quarry. Only two legs of the imposing tower and the foundation walls remained. From 1936 to 1938 the castle ruins were uncovered, secured and placed under protection. Today Grimmenstein is a popular destination.
(Source: St.Gallen-Lake Constance)