Altenburg Castle

Altenburg Castle in Brugg, canton of Aargau, is a late Roman river fort on the Aare with a late Gothic tower house, the Schlössli Altenburg, set into its walls. It is a Swiss cultural property of national significance, and the tower now houses a youth hostel.

What is Altenburg?

The site lies in the village of Altenburg, an independent municipality until 1901 and now part of Brugg. At its core is a fourth-century Roman fort, built as part of the Rhine frontier defences to guard an easy crossing of the Aare. In the Middle Ages the ruin was converted into a castle, usually linked to the early Habsburgs. The tower you see today dates from the 16th century and stands on older foundations.

What can you see?

• The Roman walls. The fort's plan is bell-shaped, with walls about 3 m thick reinforced by several semicircular towers. The south wall still rises above 7.5 m in places.
• The Schlössli. A tower house on the southern edge of the courtyard; a stretch of Roman wall survives on its west side.
• The courtyard. No traces of interior buildings were ever found inside the fort, so it is an open space framed by ancient masonry.
• The Ritterstube. A knights' hall described as the former quarters of Habsburg knights.

Excavations took place in 1920 and again from 1934 to 1949.

How do you visit?

The courtyard is freely accessible during the day. To see the interiors, book ahead with the hostel ([email protected], +41 56 441 10 20). The hostel has occupied the castle since 1941 and runs seasonally, roughly mid-March to mid-October. The castle's catering is for hostel guests.

Why go?

Late antique fortification, medieval castle and Renaissance tower combine in a single complex here, which is rare. Pair the visit with a walk through Brugg's old town and the other Roman sites of the Aare valley, such as the legionary camp of Vindonissa in nearby Windisch.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? The courtyard is free during the day. Interiors need advance contact with the hostel.

Can you stay overnight? Yes. A youth hostel operates in the tower, open seasonally from mid-March to mid-October.

How old is the castle? The fort walls are late Roman (fourth century), the tower house is 16th century, and the medieval conversion is linked to the Habsburgs.

Is Altenburg a separate town? It is a village that merged into Brugg in 1901.