Wildenburg Castle

Wildenburg Castle is a medieval castle ruin in the municipality of Baar, in the Swiss canton of Zug. It occupies a rocky spur between the Lorze and Schwarzenbach gorges. Today it makes a quiet forest outing, with standing walls, a round tower and the remains of a residential building.

Who built Wildenburg and when?

The castle was probably founded around 1200, when land in the area was being cleared and settled. The lords of Hünenberg, one of the region's notable noble families, are regarded as its builders. The first written mention comes in 1309, when it appears as a Hünenberg holding.

Partial excavations revealed several building phases. Among the oldest parts is a round tower dating to the third quarter of the 13th century. The later extensions show that the castle was in active use for a long time and was adapted to its owners' needs.

What happened to the castle?

The Hünenbergs are last recorded as owners in 1416, when the castle estates were sold. After that the stronghold was abandoned. Sixteenth-century chroniclers described a violent destruction by the people of Zug, but archaeology has not confirmed it. What is certain is that the empty walls were later used as a quarry, which sped up their decay.

In 1985 the ruins were saved from final collapse and carefully conserved, so what you see today has been stabilised.

What can you see on site?

Three main elements survive:

• the round keep, or bergfried,
• the curtain wall around the courtyard,
• the palas, the former residential building.

The layout gives a good picture of a small knightly castle in central Switzerland. The spur above two gorges explains the choice of site: steep slopes protected it on two sides.

How do you get to Wildenburg?

A marked trail leads from the Tobelbrücke bridge and takes about 15 minutes uphill. Entry to the ruins is free. The walk is short and fine with children, but sturdy shoes help, as the path runs through woodland near the gorges.

Legends of the Wildenburg lords

Local tales tell of tyrannical lords of Wildenburg. The stories stayed popular into the late 20th century and add atmosphere to the ruins, though historical sources do not back them up.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Wildenburg? In Baar, canton of Zug, Switzerland, on a spur between the Lorze and Schwarzenbach gorges.

Is there an entrance fee? No, entry is free.

How long is the walk? About 15 minutes along a marked trail from the Tobelbrücke bridge.

What remains of the castle? The round tower, the curtain wall and the palas, conserved since 1985.

Who owned the castle? The lords of Hünenberg, until the sale of the castle estates in 1416.