Zwingenberg Castle

Zwingenberg Castle dates from the 13th century. In the 1326 the lords of Zwingenberg were mentioned as an owner. In 1364 the castle was conquered and destroyed by the imperial forces. The fortress and estate were then immediately divided in two equal parts and bought by the Palatinate and the archbishoprie of Mainz. The reconstruction of the castle was made by the brothers Hans and Eberhard of Hirschhorn in 1404. The brothers were invested with the castle by Mainz and the Palatinate. We owe the building as it appears today essentially to them.

In 1778 Karl Theodor of the Palatinate conferred it upon his natural son the count of Bretzenheim; the count’s mother the countess of Heydeck, was buried in the castle chapel, where her tomb still stands today.

in 1808 the palatinate was divided up upon Napoleons orders the new sovereign the Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden purchased it with his own private means. Since then it has been family property of the house of Baden.

References:

• Schloss Zwingenberg

Address

Schloßstraße 1, Zwingenberg, Germany

Details

Founded: 1404
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Habsburg Dynasty (Germany)