Frauenfeld Castle

Frauenfeld Castle (Schloss Frauenfeld) is a medieval fortress in the town of Frauenfeld, the capital of the Swiss canton of Thurgau. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, and today it serves as the main venue of the Thurgau Historical Museum.

What is Frauenfeld Castle?

The castle is built around a single powerful tower, a keep roughly 19 metres tall. Its walls are made of large-format masonry, and the tower still forms the heart of the whole complex. It stands on a rock of molasse, a type of sandstone typical of the Swiss Plateau, above the river Murg. From the outside it reads as a compact, severe stronghold rather than a decorative palace.

Who built it and when?

The tower was raised around 1230 by the counts of Kyburg, who held the Landgraviate of Thurgau at the time. The location was chosen for defence: a rocky height above the river gave the builders a natural advantage and a view over the surrounding land. The castle stood within the town wall, yet it was kept apart from the town by a moat, so the lords of the castle and the townspeople lived side by side but separately.

From fortress to museum

Over the centuries the building changed hands and purposes. In more recent times the Bachmann family lived here. In 1955 Marie Elise Bachmann bequeathed the castle to the canton of Thurgau on one condition: that it would house the cantonal historical museum. The canton honoured that wish. In 1960, when Thurgau marked five hundred years of its association with the Swiss Confederation, the castle was fully restored and opened to the public in its new role.

What can you see inside?

The museum exhibition concentrates on the history of Thurgau from the Council of Constance in 1414 to the end of the Ancien Regime in 1798. Visitors get a picture of everyday life, power and belief in the region across those centuries, set inside authentic historic walls. Some tourist listings describe the period differently, so treat the exact dates as a general guide.

Visiting tips

• The castle is in the centre of Frauenfeld and can be combined with a walk through the old town.
• The museum's own website has listed free admission and opening hours from Tuesday to Sunday in the afternoon, with Mondays closed. Different tourism pages give slightly different schedules, so check the official site before you go.
• Allow around an hour for the exhibition and a little extra time to look at the tower and the rock it stands on.
• The castle sits at about 47.555 N, 8.897 E, close to the town centre.

Frequently asked questions

When was Frauenfeld Castle built? The keep dates from around 1230 and was built by the counts of Kyburg.

Is Frauenfeld Castle a museum? Yes. It is the main site of the Thurgau Historical Museum, a role it has had since the canton received the castle in 1955 on that condition.

How tall is the tower? The keep is around 19 metres tall.

Is the castle protected? Yes. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

Does a moat still separate the castle from the town? The castle was originally separated from the town by a moat, which was part of its medieval defences.