Lenzburg Castle
Lenzburg Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Switzerland. Today it houses the Historical museum of Aargau, which offers centuries of history of the castle and the area in one easy to assimilate and intriguing form. Lenzburg Castle is dominated by its high rock above the old town of Lenzburg, which is located in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
Fate puts the fortress Lenzburg within historical importance, which is logical given that it is one of the oldest in the whole of Switzerland. It was built almost upon an oval hill and stands at 540 meters altitude. The height of the significant Lenzburg reaches 100 meters, but the diameter of the castle is only 250 meters. Today Lenzburg Castle is part of the heritage of Switzerland.
A beautiful legend marks the history of the fortress. History tells us that the hill was home to a dragon. The mythical animal was killed by two valiant knights named Wolfram and Guntram, after which they received a life time right to live above the small mountain town of Lenzburg. The Castle Hill has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and there was found a Neolithic tomb.
The first written evidence of the Lenzburg fortress dates from 1077. Perhaps it was erected by the counts of Aargau. At that time, the counts of Lenzburg were among the most important feudal lords of the empire, while maintaining very close contact with the emperor.
In the following centuries the castle became in possession of various aristocratic families, but in 1444 within the palace settled the first ruler of the Bernese. While they had made several smaller reconstructions of the castle in the 16th century, the more significant changes came in the early 17th century. In 1624 there appeared a double firewall and the double gates of the Lenzburg Castle. In 18th century parts of the fortress was used for storage of wheat, as there had been stored over 5000 tons of grain.
Lenzburg Castle became the property of the municipality Aarhau in 1951 when it was sold by the widow, Marie Louise Ellsworth-Ulmer. Together with all of its content the fortress sold for 500, 000 francs.
Between 1978 and 1986 the historical castle was thoroughly restored, and its beauty is complemented by a garden in the French style that is made in the southwestern part of the complex.
The historical museum of Aargau was moved to Lenzburg Castle in 1987. Since 2007 it was known simply as, Museum Aargau, but within it you can see interesting exhibitions of historical objects, works of art - related to the culinary culture, a museum of silver and much more. Today the castle courtyard of Lenzburg and the Knight's impressive hall is rented for private parties.
