Freudenau Castle Ruins

The Freudenau Castle ruins are idyllically situated above the banks of the Aare River near Stilli and are a silent witness to medieval history. Built around 1240 by the Habsburgs, they once served to control the river crossing and as a transshipment point for goods. Today, the remains of the residential tower and the surrounding wall still survive. The ruins are freely accessible and easily accessible via hiking trails – a worthwhile detour for anyone seeking to combine nature and history.

The castle Freudenau was built in the first half of the 13th century. The tower was a fief of the Counts of Habsburg, the remaining castle buildings and the castle estate a fief of the monastery Säckingen. At the castle sat Habsburg service nobility, first probably a family branch of the taverns of Habsburg, later the gentlemen to the gate and finally Albrecht Businger. The castle inhabitants profited from the traffic-geographical importance of the castle, because in the second half of the 13th century led to the castle a bridge over the Aare. Additional revenue for the bridge toll resulted in the exchange of goods that took place in the castle. Therefore, the castle lost its importance after the bridge was destroyed by flood or ice. Finally, it was attacked by Zurich in 1410 and destroyed by fire. The castle ruins and the associated Burggut were acquired in 1465 by the ferry company Stilli.