About this place
Burgstelle Werdegg is the site of a medieval castle on a wooded hill beside Hittnau in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. No walls survive today, but the ditches and the shape of the hill remain readable, and entry is free and unrestricted.
Where is Burgstelle Werdegg?
The hill lies right by the first houses of Hittnau, just west of the road, and is covered in forest. Sources place the castle between Unterhittnau and Dürstelen, while the name Oberhittnau is also tied to the site. It is an easy short walk in the Zurich Oberland.
What can you see there?
The hill is cut by three ditches. Visitors can distinguish a main castle (Hauptburg) and an outer bailey (Vorburg), two separate levels of the former stronghold. No wall traces remain on the flat areas, so this place suits people who enjoy reading a landscape: the ditches, plateau edges and natural rise tell more about the old defences than any ruin would.
The outer bailey has a picnic area with a fire pit. There is no food service and no overnight lodging, so bring your own food and drink.
Who built the castle?
According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (HLS), the lords of Werdegg had the castle built around 1200. The family appears in records from 1229 to 1313; Burgenwelt gives 1312 as the final year. The estate later passed through several families. The Landenberg-Werdegg knights consolidated Werdegg into a court lordship (Gerichtsherrschaft) in the late Middle Ages. Further owners named include the Göldli, Bonstetten and Hinwil families.
What happened to the castle?
According to the chronicler Johannes Stumpf, Confederate troops destroyed the castle in 1444. Burgenwelt specifies May 1444. It was never rebuilt, and what remains today is the outline of the fortress on the hill.
The court at Oberhittnau
Although the castle was destroyed, the Werdegg lordship continued as a judicial unit. For the Werdegg part of the territory, the spring and autumn courts (Maien- and Herbstgericht) were held in Oberhittnau until 1798. That explains the link between that village's name and the castle's history.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry free? Yes. The site is open without restrictions.
Are any walls preserved? No. The plateau has no wall traces; the ditches and the shape of the hill remain.
Can you have a picnic? Yes. The outer bailey has a spot with a fire pit. There is no food service or lodging.
When was the castle destroyed? In 1444, by Confederate troops according to Stumpf.
Who is it for? Medieval history fans, short walks and quiet places without crowds.
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