Uster Castle

Uster Castle (Schloss Uster) crowns a hill above the Kirchuster district of Uster, in the Swiss canton of Zurich. Its tower looks out over Lake Greifensee, the Glarus Alps and the town, and the historicist look of the building comes from a restoration in the early twentieth century.

What is the history of the castle?

The castle is usually dated to around 1200 and linked to the House of Rapperswil. Its early years are thinly documented because the site has never been studied scientifically, and some accounts suggest an older origin, with the Bonstetten family taking over in the later thirteenth century. Over the centuries it passed through the Bonstetten, Diesbach, Hohensax and Tschudi families, and from 1858 belonged to the Escher family.

A fire in 1492 destroyed most of the original structures, and the tower was rebuilt several times. In 1852 the castle became the seat of the district administration and the tower served as a jail. In 1916 Jakob Heusser-Staub bought the nearly ruined complex, restored it and gave it to the people of Uster.

What can you see?

Visitors can climb the tower to its battlements and see the knights' hall. From the top you get views across Greifensee, the Glarus Alps and the rooftops of Uster. Expect several flights of stairs, which can be difficult for visitors with limited mobility.

When can you visit?

The castle is a working school, so it is not open every day. Since 1995 it has housed the private boarding school Schloss Schule Uster. Public visits take place on selected Sundays in summer and autumn, generally from 2 pm to 5 pm; in 2026 they run until 25 October, with free entry. A volunteer castle-warden team also offers guided tours of about 45 minutes outside those dates, by arrangement and for a flat fee. Check current conditions before you go.

How do you get there?

The address is Schlossweg 1, 8610 Uster. Uster is connected to Zurich by S-Bahn, and the castle is reached on foot uphill from town. The phone number listed in the event calendar is +41 44 944 72 35.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to Uster Castle free? On the open Sundays, yes. Group tours outside those days are charged.

Can you stay overnight at the castle? No. It is a boarding school, not a hotel.

What is the highlight of a visit? The tower with its views of Greifensee and the Glarus Alps, plus the knights' hall.

Is the castle accessible for visitors with reduced mobility? Not fully, since the tour involves several flights of stairs.

How old is the castle? The original building dates to roughly 1200, while its present appearance owes much to the 1916 restoration.