Castle of Lenzbourg

The castle of Lenzbourg is close to the old city of Lenzbourg in the Canton of Argovie. With a long story with its credit, it belongs to the oldest castles of Switzerland and presents a varied architecture.

The building is at the top of the Schlossberg to 504 meters of altitude, on a hill of approximately 100 meters in height for 250 meters in diameter made up of molasse. The oldest parts of the castle go back to the 11th century when the line of the Counts de Lenzbourg decided to install its residence there. It is at that time that were built two keeps and the main building.

The castle passed then between the hands of the Counts de Kybourg then of Habsbourg before returning in hand of confederated. During more than 350 years, the Bernese baillifs lived there and the building was used then as private residence. During the Bernese period, several constructions were added whose house for the baillif and of important work changed the shape of the castle.

After the end of the Bernese domination, the castle was yielded to the canton of Argovie in 1804. Johann Christian Lippe acquired of it some time afterwards. In 1956, the widow of the adventurer Lincoln Ellsworth sold the castle with the canton of Argovie. It shelters since 1987 the historical museum of the canton of Argovie.

Owners

Ca 1000 - 1173: Counts de Lenzburg
1173: Frederic Barberousse
1173 - approx. 1230: Othon Ier of Burgundy
Ca 1230 - 1273: Counts de Kybourg
1273 - 1415: dynasty of the Habsbourg
1415 - 1798: Canton of Bern
1803 - 1860: Canton of Argovie
1860 - 1872: Konrad Pestalozzi-Scotchburn
1872 - 1893: Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Wedekind (father of Frank Wedekind)
1893 - 1911: August Edward Jessup
1911 - 1925: James Ellsworth
1925 - 1951: Lincoln Ellsworth, wire of the precedent
1951 - 1956: Marie Shines Ellsworth-Ulmer, widow of Lincoln
1956 -: canton of Argovie

See too

External bonds

the castle of Lenzbourg, history, photographs and sights air

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