Altenburg Castle
| Altenburg Castle | |
|---|---|
| Schlössli; Schlösschen Altenburg | |
| Brugg | |
Residence tower of Schlösschens Altenburg, with the Roman wall visible to the right
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 Altenburg Castle
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| Coordinates | 47°28′55.24″N 8°11′39.62″E / 47.4820111°N 8.1943389°ECoordinates: 47°28′55.24″N 8°11′39.62″E / 47.4820111°N 8.1943389°E |
| Code | CH-AG |
| Height | 343 m above the sea |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Preserved, now a youth hostel |
| Site history | |
| Built | around 370 |
Altenburg Castle is a castle in the village of Altenburg bei Brugg in the municipality of Brugg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The castle (the Schlössli) and the Altenburg Roman ruins, which are integrated into it, are classified as Swiss heritage site of national significance.
The exact date of construction is unknown, however the traditional date given is during the reign of Valentinian I or around 370. The discovery of several small coin hoards near the ruins may indicate a construction date as early as the beginning of the 4th century AD.
The castle was built on a point above the Aar river as part of the Limes Germanicus to protect an easily fordable stretch of the river. The castle was bell-shaped with an interior courtyard that was about 28.3 meters (93 ft) long. The walls were 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) thick and protected by six or eight half-round towers. The walls were additionally protected by two ditches. The height of the walls is unknown, but a 7.5 m (25 ft) tall section on south side is still visible, incorporated into the medieval Schlössli. The castle gate was on the eastern side of the castle and was flanked by two towers. Nothing is known about the number, location or purposes of the interior buildings.
The Schlössli was built in the ruins of the Roman castle during the late 10th century, probably for an ancestor of the famous Habsburg family. It remained the seat of that family until the construction of Habsburg Castle in the 11th century. After that time it became the seat of Habsburg bailiffs or knights. In 1397 the castle, village and the rest of the Habsburg Eigenamt were gifted to Königsfelden Monastery in Windisch.
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Wikipedia