Alt Rapperswil

Alt Rapperswil is a medieval castle site on a hill above Altendorf, in the canton of Schwyz, on the southern shore of Lake Zurich. Only a few foundations and ditches survive, but a late-Gothic chapel dedicated to St. John stands on the old castle ground. It is a quiet stop that connects a powerful noble family's origins with a lakeside walk.

What was Alt Rapperswil castle?

It was the ancestral seat of the Rapperswil family, who served as protectors (Vögte) of Einsiedeln monastery and later rose to the rank of counts. The castle was probably built before 1100. Around 1200 the family moved across the lake and founded a new castle, today's Rapperswil in the canton of St. Gallen. The original seat became "Alt" (old) Rapperswil, and the settlement below the hill took the name Altendorf in 1449.

What happened to it?

People from Zurich broke the castle around 1350. In 1358 it passed to the Habsburgs, who did not rebuild it as a fortress. They restored only the round castle chapel, raised on the old foundations. The hilltop never fell completely silent: the chapel is still in use.

What can you see today?

• St. John's Chapel (St. Johann). The present building dates from the second half of the 14th century and rises over the destroyed round tower. The old tower now forms its choir. Documents first mention the chapel in 1476, and inside stand three winged altars in a consistent late-Gothic style. Tradition links an earlier chapel to the year 1076, but that is unconfirmed.
• Defensive earthworks. A neck ditch cutting the hill off from the ridge and other traces of ditches remain visible. There are no walls above ground, just a handful of foundations.
• Views. The hill overlooks Altendorf, and on a clear day you can take in the surrounding lake landscape.

Small excavations in 1972, during the chapel's renovation, confirmed where the castle stood but revealed little about its layout. The most common finds were stove tiles.

How do you get there?

You walk up to the hill from St. John's Chapel in Altendorf. The site is freely accessible and needs no ticket. The Via Jacobi, the Swiss section of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, passes through the area, so a visit fits easily into a longer hike. Altendorf lies on Lake Zurich, close to Lachen and Rapperswil-Jona.

When should you visit?

Late spring to autumn is the most comfortable period, with dry paths and good visibility. Ruins and chapel take about an hour; combined with a stretch of the Via Jacobi it fills half a day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alt Rapperswil the same as the castle in Rapperswil? No. It is the earlier seat of the same family, in Altendorf in the canton of Schwyz. The castle in Rapperswil on the opposite shore, in St. Gallen, was built by the family around 1200.

Are the castle walls still standing? No. Only a few foundations and ditches survive. The one complete structure is St. John's Chapel, built on the site of the round tower.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the hill is freely accessible.

Who destroyed the castle? Zurich forces broke it around 1350, and in 1358 it passed to the Habsburgs.