Glanzenberg ruin

Glanzenberg Castle ruin stands in Unterengstringen in the canton of Zurich, on the banks of the Limmat close to Dietikon. It is what remains of a fortress and a small town founded in the 13th century by the Freiherren von Regensberg. Visitors today find earthworks and wall fragments rather than towers, and the town itself has vanished completely.

What was Glanzenberg?

The Regensberg family, among the most influential noble houses around Zurich in the High Middle Ages, established the castle and town around the middle of the 13th century. The first written record dates from 1257. The riverside site allowed them to control trade along the Limmat and to plan a bridge, an idea the city of Zurich opposed; a 1257 agreement barred land sales for a bridge on the opposite bank. Tradition dates the destruction of castle and town to September 1267, together with the nearby Uetliburg, although this rests mainly on later chronicles. In 1301 the Regensbergs sold their holdings here to Fahr Convent.

What can you see today?

The ruin sits on a terminal moraine just below Fahr Convent. A double ditch survives, along with sections of a polygonal wall built from large erratic boulders. Much of the hill has been lost to undercutting by the river and to erosion. Excavations took place in 1975 and in 1980-81. The town itself lay about 300 m to the west, in the Limmat floodplain, and has no visible buildings left.

How do you get there?

The site lies near the border of the cantons of Zurich and Aargau, a short walk from Fahr Convent. The nearest station is Glanzenberg in Dietikon, on the Zurich-Olten main line. From Dietikon, follow the riverside path, which is also popular with cyclists. Coordinates: 47.402 N, 8.416 E.

When is the best time to visit?

The site is open all year with no admission fee. Spring to autumn is the most pleasant, and the walk combines well with a visit to Fahr Convent and a stroll along the river. Wear sturdy shoes, as the ground near the ditch can be damp.

Frequently asked questions

Is there more than just ditches left of the castle? Yes, parts of a boulder wall survive, though they are modest remains rather than tall ruins.

Who founded Glanzenberg? The Freiherren von Regensberg, around the middle of the 13th century.

When was it destroyed? According to tradition in September 1267, along with Uetliburg castle.

Do I need a ticket? No, the ruin can be visited freely at any time of year.