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Known as ''Castelasc'' in Lombard local language, the Castle of Cuasso is one of the most important defensive buildings in the province of Varese and Insubria. Founded in medieval times, it stands upon a hill which gives name to the whole city of Cuasso al Monte. Nowadays only ruins remain of the ancient structure. ==Structure and present conditions of the building== Going north-south, the building stands on an area of 3500 square metres, with a 400-metre perimeter. Altitudes range from 430 metres above sea level in the dungeon to 455 metres at the north-east fortress. Coming from the south, the dungeon can be seen from 10 km' distance, although it is located in a scarcely visible position, which is a proof of its strategical importance. The castle was originally built on four floors, and had an embattled roof; on the western wall leaned a small tower, hosting the stairs that took to each floor. The dungeon looked like a ship's bow; most likely, the now disappeared southern wall had no entrance, but windows only. From that area, the castle could easily control the road beneath, taking strategical advantage of its higher position. Behind the dungeon, the castle's plan opened in a fan-like manner, showing an angle of 15°; the whole area was a plain court, hosting two buildings: in the western part of the yard there was the church of Saint Denis, the French patron of Paris; on the opposite side another church, dedicated to Saint Ambrose could be probably found, whose ruins cannot be clearly identified. Saint Denis church had two entrances: the main one was situated on the west side, while the southern access lead to the court. The fact leads us to suppose that the church was the parish of a wooden village, now disappeared, that stood around the bottom of the hill. The west side was also the easiest to defend. On the south-east wall, slightly northern than Saint Ambrose's church, was situated the main cartway door, whose entrance was probably made easier by a wooden claw, either fixed or moving, depending on the high relief that detached it from the ancient road. Going north, visitors can find more ruins, whose identification is scarcely possible: most likely, these are the leftovers of shops or storehouses. The eastern side rises up to 455 metres. The hill-top is entirely covered by the grand north-east fortress. This is the most ancient part of the castle: dating back to Roman times, it was one of the signalling towers that were built all around the Empire and, in medieval times, Lombards made it bigger. From the hill-top one can view all of the southern area of Lake Lugano, which could not be done from the dungeon. The access to the northeast fortress is still difficult, due both to the relief and the thick vegetation that makes the entry almost inaccessible. The dungeon played a very important role during the First World War, when it was included in the well-known Linea Cadorna thanks to its outstanding position. The western side stands on the same level as the dungeon, showing another court: protected by a wall, it gives way to the North Door, that surely had a drawbridge. Between the north-west court and the north-east dungeon, many embankments were built: on their pavements probably rose wooden and stone buildings. Some of these embankments are still visible. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cuasso Castle」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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