Castell

Castell in Tägerwilen, in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, is a pairing of a ruined medieval fortress and a Renaissance manor house, Schloss Castell, standing a short distance from each other above Lake Constance and just outside Konstanz. Together they count as a heritage site of national significance in Switzerland.

What is Castell?

The ruins rank among the largest medieval defensive complexes in the Lake Constance region. The Bishop of Konstanz, Ulrich I, had the fortress built around 1120. Appenzell troops stormed and destroyed it in 1499 during the Swabian War, and it has stood in ruins ever since.

The present castle lies to the west, divided from the ruins by a stream gorge. Its core dates to 1585, when Konrad Vogt von Wartenfels, a nobleman from Konstanz, replaced an old farmhouse with a late Renaissance residence.

How did the castle change over time?

• 1661: the Zollikofer von Altenklingen brothers of St. Gallen acquire the estate and remodel it in 1725.
• 1790: Daniel von Scherer of St. Gallen becomes owner.
• 1878 to 1894: his descendant Max von Scherer-Scherburg has architect Emil Otto Tafel rebuild it in neo-Renaissance style. Carl von Häberlin paints frescoes between 1892 and 1894 showing scenes from the estate's past.
• 1901: the castle passes by inheritance to the von Stockar family, who still own it in the fourth generation.

The estate includes a farm and forestry operation of about 160 hectares. The Thurgau heritage office rates the building as particularly valuable, with outstanding cultural-historical significance both inside and out.

What can visitors see?

The castle is a private home and closed to the public, but a gap in the trees lets you see it well from the road. The estate's pond and the surrounding woods are open to everyone, as are the ruins, where a fire pit has been set up.

How do I get there, and when should I go?

Tägerwilen sits right on the German border next to Kreuzlingen and Konstanz, so the trip from either city is short. The ruins are a stop on a popular walking route from Helsighausen via the Napoleonturm, Castell, Tägerwilen and Gottlieben to Kreuzlingen. Spring and autumn suit a visit best, with dry forest paths and decent daylight. The ruins lie in woodland, so wear sturdy shoes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Schloss Castell? No, it is a private residence. You can view it from the road and walk in the forest and by the pond around it.

Is there an entry fee for the ruins? We found no mention of any charge; the ruins are part of a woodland walking route.

Who destroyed the medieval fortress? Appenzell troops, in 1499 during the Swabian War.

Who owns the castle today? The von Stockar family, who inherited it in 1901.