Flaach Castle

Flaach Castle (Schloss Flaach) sits in the village of Flaach in the canton of Zurich, in the wine-growing Weinland region of northern Switzerland. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance and once housed the officials who ran the surrounding villages.

Where is Flaach Castle?

Flaach is a long street village on the northern slope of the Irchel hill, in the Andelfingen district. The castle belongs to the historic village core, together with the church and its Käsbissenturm tower and old mills. Its coordinates are roughly 47.577 N, 8.604 E, in a landscape of vineyards between the Rhine and the Thur.

What is the history of the castle?

The building's story is tied to the lower jurisdiction over Flaach and neighbouring Volken. In 1298 King Albrecht granted these rights to Rheinau Abbey, which passed them to local nobles and, in the 16th and 17th centuries, to burgher families from Schaffhausen.

Sources disagree on the construction date. The Historical Lexicon of Switzerland (HLS) gives 1612 and names the bailiff Tobias Peyer as builder. The ISOS village inventory lists the castle under 1519 and the castle barn under 1705–06.

Zurich bought the rights in 1694 against the abbey's wishes and made the lordship a bailiwick in 1699. In 1780 no one could be found to take the post, so the city folded the courts into the Andelfingen bailiwick and sold the official's seat, the castle.

What can you see there?

The castle is part of a village layout protected in the ISOS inventory. Beside it stands an 18th-century castle barn. The former castle wine press (Schlosstrotte) was converted into a residential house in 1985-86, which shows the complex is still in daily use. The best way to see the castle is from outside while walking through the village. The available sources do not mention interior visits, so ask the Flaach municipal office before you go.

How do you get to Flaach?

The village lies between Winterthur and the Rhine, about 30 km from Zurich. A short walk through the village combines well with a hike on the Irchel or a trip to other castles of the Weinland. Komoot has a guide to castles around Flaach.

Frequently asked questions

Is Flaach Castle a listed monument?

Yes. It appears in the Swiss inventory of cultural property as an object of national significance.

When was the castle built?

The HLS gives 1612 and the ISOS inventory 1519. According to the HLS, the bailiff Tobias Peyer built it.

What was the castle used for?

It was the seat of the bailiff who administered Flaach and Volken. It was sold after 1780.

Can you go inside?

The sources give no visiting hours. The castle is mainly viewed from outside; for a visit, ask the Flaach municipality.