Wellenberg Castle

Wellenberg Castle (Schloss Wellenberg) stands on a hill above the Thur valley in Felben-Wellhausen, in the Swiss canton of Thurgau, close to Frauenfeld. It is a medieval stronghold with more than eight centuries of recorded history, and it remains in private hands today.

When does Wellenberg first appear in the records?

The earliest documented mention dates to 1204. At that point Walter von Wellenberg appears in the sources as a ministerial of the Reichenau abbey, a household knight serving one of the region's most important monasteries. The oldest parts of the building are thought to go back to the 13th century. The lower walls are made of glacial erratic boulders gathered locally, which is why the castle also features in the cantonal geotope inventory.

What happened to the castle in the 13th century?

Sources disagree on the exact date of its first destruction. One account says it was burned in 1258, during the interregnum, when Zurich's forces struck a fortress that had been used as a base for raids. The geotope inventory gives 1259 and notes that walls nearly three metres thick did not stop the attackers. Given the discrepancy, it is safest to say the castle was attacked in the late 1250s.

Who has owned Wellenberg?

The Historical Lexicon of Switzerland (HLS) documents a long chain of owners:

• Between 1338 and 1537 the castle passed through the Spiegelberg, Strass, Hohenlandenberg and Mötteli von Rappenstein families.
• Building work was carried out around 1520.
• In 1537 Gregor von Ulm, a Protestant from Ravensburg, bought the estate from the Catholic Joachim Mötteli.
• Zurich acquired the lordship in 1669 and 1694, and governed it through bailiffs from 1702 to 1798.
• In 1815 Joachim Leonz Eder bought it as a private owner.
• Since 1900 it has belonged to the Schenkel family.

In 1873 the castle was transferred from the municipality of Thundorf to Wellhausen, changing its administrative affiliation.

Can you visit Wellenberg Castle?

The castle is privately owned, so do not assume the interior is open to visitors. Check current information before travelling. The castle and its position above the Thur valley feature in walking routes described in trail guides for the Frauenfeld area.

Why does it matter?

Wellenberg is a good example of a rural stronghold in north-eastern Switzerland that outlasted changes of lords, confessions and administrative borders. Documents from the early 13th century, thick walls built of local boulders and a shifting list of owners make it an interesting stop for anyone exploring the history of the region, especially on a trip through the Thur valley.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Wellenberg Castle? In Felben-Wellhausen, canton of Thurgau, on a hill above the Thur valley near Frauenfeld.

When was the castle first mentioned? In 1204, in connection with Walter von Wellenberg, a ministerial of the Reichenau abbey.

Is the castle open to visitors? It is private property and has belonged to the Schenkel family since 1900. Access to the interior is not guaranteed.

What are the lower walls made of? Glacial erratic boulders collected nearby; the walls are almost three metres thick.

Who owns it today? The Schenkel family, since 1900.