Trostburg, medieval castle ruin

En un regard

Le château en bref

Trostburg overlooks the village of Teufenthal (Aargau) from a rocky spur in the Wynental valley. The original castle probably dates from the late 12th century; it is first mentioned in 1241 as the seat of the lords of Trostberg, a ministerial family in the service of the Kyburgs and then of the Habsburgs (1264). One branch built the neighbouring castle of Liebegg. The lordship later passed to the Rinach family, who exercised low justice over six villages. After the Bernese conquest of Aargau in 1415, high justice reverted to Bern. In 1486 Hans von Hallwyl acquired the castle, had its defences strengthened, and built a tower house (Hallwilhaus, 1494) and a chapel. In 1616 Bern exercised its right of pre-emption in the face of a proposed sale in Brugg, attached the lordship to the bailiwick of Lenzburg, and resold the castle to wealthy farmers of Teufenthal. Around 1750 the whole complex was enlarged into a small residential castle; at the end of the 19th century part of it served as a music box factory. Fragments survive, including the keep ruin (walls about 7 m high), separated by an artificial moat. Excavations and restoration work have been carried out since 1999. Private site, visible from the footpaths.