Brunegg Castle
Encyclopedia
Brunegg castle is a castle in the municipality
of Brunegg
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
The castle was built on a hill at the edge of the Jura mountains
in the 13th Century. This castle was probably built, together with Wildegg castle in nearby Wildegg, as part of the Habsburg
border defenses. The castle was occupied by Habsburg
knights, including Schenken von Brunegg and Gessler von Meienberg. In 1415 the castle was besieged by Bernese troops, but they lifted siege after a counter attack. However, Bern conquered the Aargau, and awarded the fief to the Segenser or Segesser family. Between 1538-1798, the castle was subordinate to the Governor of Lenzburg. In 1815 it became the property of the Hünerwadel family of Lenzburg. The current owners of the castle, the Salis family, inherited the castle through marriage from the Hünerwadels. For hundreds of years, the castle was poorly-maintained, and in the 17th Century it was heavily damaged twice through storm and tempest. In 1805-06, the keep
and out buildings were repaired and the roof was rebuilt.
The village of Brunegg owes its name and existence to the castle. Initially it belonged to the personal land of the Habsburgs. In the 14th Century, they granted the rights to low justice
into the hands of the castle owners. Bern placed in the court of Othmarsingen in the Lenzburg district. In the 19th Century it was part of the Brugg district though since 1840 it has been in the Lenzburg district.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
of Brunegg
Brunegg
Brunegg is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Brunegg is first mentioned in first half of the 12th Century as Bruneco. In 1273 it was mentioned as Brunegge. Brunegg castle was built on a hill at the edge of the Jura mountains in the 13th...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The castle was built on a hill at the edge of the Jura mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
in the 13th Century. This castle was probably built, together with Wildegg castle in nearby Wildegg, as part of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
border defenses. The castle was occupied by Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
knights, including Schenken von Brunegg and Gessler von Meienberg. In 1415 the castle was besieged by Bernese troops, but they lifted siege after a counter attack. However, Bern conquered the Aargau, and awarded the fief to the Segenser or Segesser family. Between 1538-1798, the castle was subordinate to the Governor of Lenzburg. In 1815 it became the property of the Hünerwadel family of Lenzburg. The current owners of the castle, the Salis family, inherited the castle through marriage from the Hünerwadels. For hundreds of years, the castle was poorly-maintained, and in the 17th Century it was heavily damaged twice through storm and tempest. In 1805-06, the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
and out buildings were repaired and the roof was rebuilt.
The village of Brunegg owes its name and existence to the castle. Initially it belonged to the personal land of the Habsburgs. In the 14th Century, they granted the rights to low justice
High, middle and low justice
High, middle and low justices are notions dating from Western feudalism to indicate descending degrees of judiciary power to administer justice by the maximal punishment the holders could inflict upon their subjects and other dependents....
into the hands of the castle owners. Bern placed in the court of Othmarsingen in the Lenzburg district. In the 19th Century it was part of the Brugg district though since 1840 it has been in the Lenzburg district.