Wulp Castle: A Medieval Hilltop Fortification in Küsnacht, Switzerland

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.burgenwelt.org

Country: Switzerland

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

Wulp Castle is a medieval hilltop fortification located in Küsnacht, Switzerland. It was constructed during the high Middle Ages by inhabitants of the region, although its precise founding details remain unknown due to a lack of contemporary records.

The earliest connections to the site may date back to the 11th century, when a local noble named Eghardus of Küsnacht is mentioned in documents. This figure could be related to the initial owners or builders of the castle. Additionally, a chronicle from the 12th century, created by Muri Abbey, references a castle near Zurich, which may correspond to Wulp Castle. Ownership during the 11th century involved ministeriales—serving nobles—under the Lenzburg counts, a prominent family that held territories in the region.

Following the extinction of the Lenzburg and the Zähringen noble lines by the early 13th century, control of the castle likely passed to the Barons of Regensberg. Wulp Castle then became involved in regional conflicts, most notably during the Regensberg feud. In 1267, the castle was attacked and destroyed by forces from the city of Zurich, commanded by Rudolf of Habsburg, who later became Holy Roman Emperor. Chronicles from that era record this siege and destruction, although physical signs of violent damage at the site have not been conclusively identified through archaeology.

After around 1270, Wulp Castle appears to have been abandoned and left in ruin. Archaeological investigations support this timeline, with no medieval ceramic finds dating later than the mid-13th century unearthed. This suggests the castle was not reoccupied or rebuilt after its destruction.

Interest in preserving the ruins began in the twentieth century. Between 1920 and 1923, the first archaeological excavations and conservation efforts were undertaken, followed by additional work in 1961–62, 1978, and from 1980 to 1982. These campaigns, conducted by local historians and archaeologists, sought to stabilize the remaining structures and better understand the site’s history. Since 1923, Wulp Castle has been protected as a heritage site under Swiss federal law.

Excavations revealed that the location had been used in earlier periods as well. Evidence of settlement activity dates back to the Bronze Age and Roman times, indicating the strategic importance of the hill. The castle itself underwent several phases of construction and modification from the early medieval period through its high medieval peak, reflecting changing architectural styles and possibly shifting defensive needs.

Remains

Wulp Castle sits atop a hill spur with a multi-tiered design shaped by the contours of the terrain. At its core stands the foundations of a large rectangular stone tower, or keep, which was constructed around the 11th century. This main tower was built to assert control over the surrounding landscape and formed the highest point of the castle. It was originally encircled by a fortified ring wall, itself extended and reinforced in later building phases, following the edge of the hill to maximize natural defenses.

During the 12th century, a notable residential building was added to the northwest corner within the castle enclosure. This structure included a heated room, as shown by the discovery of ceramic stove tiles used for warming, suggesting efforts toward comfort and domestic use. This building was destroyed by fire at some point and was not reconstructed.

Significant changes occurred in the 13th century when the original central tower was largely dismantled down to its foundations. A new defensive ring wall was erected, featuring an unusual oval-shaped tower on the eastern side. This tower included a straight glacis, or sloped base, known as a prallkante—unique in castle architecture of this region and period. This design may reflect early adaptations to the emerging use of firearms in siege warfare. Within the fortified area, a transverse dividing wall separated the inner space into an eastern residential section, where a palas (a great hall or main building) was situated, and a western outer bailey used for various service functions.

The builders reused stone materials from the dismantled central tower, including window and door frames, when constructing the new walls, demonstrating practical recycling of earlier elements. Remains of various other structures were uncovered, such as a cistern that collected and stored water, essential for the castle’s inhabitants during sieges, and a smithy with a functioning forge located in the western courtyard, highlighting the site’s self-sufficiency in metalworking.

Beneath the medieval constructions, the hill was deliberately leveled using marl—a type of lime-rich clay—layered about 3.2 meters deep. This leveling covered earlier remains, including a half-subterranean building dating from the 7th or 8th century, measuring approximately 4 by 6 meters, indicating long-term human presence and reuse of this strategic hill.

Archaeological excavations also brought to light pottery shards spanning multiple eras: late Bronze Age fragments pointing to prehistoric habitation; Roman-period finds including tiles from hypocaust heating systems, illustrating the site’s importance during antiquity; and medieval ceramics that confirm occupation continued until the mid-13th century.

Today, the ruins primarily consist of low walls and foundation outlines of the tower and the encircling ring wall. Some parts have been carefully restored or consolidated with modern mortar, and earth embankments have been added for protection. These preserved elements reveal the complex, multi-layered history of the site and allow visitors to observe the remains of several phases of construction across centuries.