Schnabelburg Castle

P3

Schnabelburg ruins (May 2007)

The Beak Castle is a ruined castle near the village of Hausen am Albis in the Canton of Zurich.

History

1185 Walter I., Freiherr von Eschenbach, was called by the newly built castle. However, you do not know exactly whether it is really time to the same castle, whose ruins are now known, acted. Archaeological investigations of the castle complex have shown that the castle was probably built rather only in the 13th century, and this very quickly. However, it has been found in the vicinity of the ruins visible today no traces that indicate that first another castle was built.

In the year 1218 died the last Duke of Zaehringen with which were associated the owner of the castle, and so the economic descent began in the family of the lords of Eschenbach Schnabelburg.

With Berchtold III. von Eschenbach was in 1270 a friend of Rudolf I of Habsburg new lord of the manor of Schnabelburg. Berchtold II fought in 1278 with the Habsburgs in the decisive battle on the March field against Ottokar of Bohemia. It is likely that the Eschenberger Knight 1298 fell in the decisive battle at Göllheim since then he disappeared from the records.

A son Berchtold, Walter von Eschenbach helped with in 1308 to assassinate the King Albrecht I of Habsburg. He was then occupied by the imperial ban. Besieged in August 1309 to the Habsburgs conquered then the Schnabelburg in revenge for the regicide. According to archaeological findings, the castle during the siege was either not destroyed or rebuilt later.

1955 were carried out excavations in the ruins by Hugo Schneider and carried out conservation measures.