Burgstelle Liebenberg

Burgstelle Liebenberg in Mönchaltorf (canton of Zurich, Switzerland) marks the site of a medieval castle. Only a handful of stones and the trace of a broad ditch survive. Also known as Liebenberg im Brand or "Lieberg", it stands on a wooded rise just east of the hamlet of Burg, about 1.3 km south of Mönchaltorf village at roughly 476 m above sea level. It suits history fans and short walks, and offers no visitor facilities.

Who built it and what was it?

The lords of Liebenberg are credited with the castle. They were imperial ministerials of the 13th century, and recent research traces them back to followers of the Zähringen dukes who lived near Rheinfelden around 1100 and later around Schaffhausen and Rheinau. A Chounradus de Libinberg is recorded in 1217, and around 1244 Ulrich von Liebenberg served as burgrave of Rheinfelden. The family backed the Staufer emperors, which set it against the Counts of Kyburg, and it vanishes from records after 1253.

Who owned it later?

In 1293 the castle, together with half of the steward's office of Mönchaltorf, was a fief of St. Gallen Abbey held by the Giel von Glattbrugg family. One branch took the name "Giel von Liebenberg". In 1391 Werner Giel sold it to Hermann Gessler, lord of nearby Grüningen. Gessler pledged it to the city of Zurich in 1405 and sold it for good in 1408 along with the Grüningen lordship. Zurich then passed Liebenberg as a pledge to Rudolf Netstaller of Glarus.

How did it end?

In 1440, during the Old Zurich War, Netstaller gave the castle up without a fight to the advancing men of Schwyz, who largely destroyed it. It was never rebuilt and slowly became a ruin. A 1673 watercolour by Hans Erhard Escher still shows its outline.

What can you see today?

The castle was a simple complex with a keep, a residential range and a surrounding wall. A wide ditch cut it off from the land on the southwest side, and the gate is thought to have stood in the southwest corner. Its signature feature was the tower, about 22 m tall: the base measured 9.15 m square and was built of carefully dressed bossed stones, then turned round above the first floor. This may point to two building phases, both within the 13th century. The tower collapsed on 15 November 1851. Today you will find scattered stones and the lie of the land, so bring some imagination.

How do you get there?

By car: from Zurich take the A52 (Forch expressway) to the Esslingen exit, head north on Usterstrasse, and after about 400 m turn right onto Lieburgstrasse, which leads to the hamlet of Burg, where you can park. By public transport: take the S5 or S15 from Zurich to Uster, then bus 842 towards Oetwil am See to the stop Esslingen, Lieburg, followed by a walk of about 15 minutes along Lieburgstrasse.

When should you go?

The site is open at all times and free. Late spring or autumn works best, when the woods are drier and the ditch is easier to spot without dense foliage. There is no cafe, accommodation or picnic area, and the path is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No. The site is open all day and free.

Are any walls still standing? No. The tower fell in 1851; only scattered stones and the ditch earthwork remain.

Is this the same as Liebenberg near Kollbrunn? No. Several castles in the canton of Zurich carried this name; this one is in Mönchaltorf, Uster district.

How long does a visit take? From the Esslingen bus stop it is about 15 minutes on foot each way, and the hill itself takes a few minutes to explore.