Castle of Maur: A Medieval Swiss Administrative and Cultural Site

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.museenmaur.ch

Country: Switzerland

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Castle of Maur is located in the municipality of Maur in Switzerland. It was originally constructed in the mid-13th century by the medieval Swiss civilization as a stone residential tower serving as an administrative center.

Around 1250, the castle was built above the village of Maur near Greifensee. Its primary function was to house the administrative seat of the Fraumünster Abbey in Zürich. The castle’s management was entrusted to the Meier family of Maur, who exercised low-level judicial powers over the surrounding area. This early period established the site’s role as both a residence and local administrative hub under the influence of a major religious institution.

From the 15th century onward, ownership of the castle passed through several hands. Noteworthy proprietors included Junker Johannes Engelhard and Junker Georg Grebel, reflecting shifting political and social circumstances. Later, Felix Hottinger held the property until it was acquired in 1749 by David Herrliberger, a copper engraver. Herrliberger used the castle not only as his home but also as a center for his publishing activities.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, higher judicial authority over the region oscillated between the Kyburg family and the Landvogtei of Greifensee. However, the castle ultimately stayed as a freehold of the Meier family. Although Herrliberger’s judicial powers were limited, their exercise stirred local tensions. In 1775, Herrliberger sold both the castle and the associated judicial rights to Hans-Jakob Zollinger, but the ultimate judicial authority soon returned to the city of Zürich.

At the turn of the 19th century, substantial expansions were undertaken to transform the castle into a manor house, marking a change in its architectural and functional character. Around 1850, a stairwell was added to the building. Since 1962, ownership of the Castle of Maur has belonged to the local municipality. Major renovations carried out in 1974–75 converted the structure into a museum. Beginning in 1976, it has housed the Herrliberger collection alongside part of the local museum, featuring exhibition spaces and workshops related to copper engraving and book printing.

Remains

The Castle of Maur originally consisted of a square stone tower measuring approximately 8.9 meters on each side. It was constructed with foundations around 1.4 meters thick, made chiefly of fieldstones reinforced with finely dressed corner stones to enhance structural stability. This residential tower was positioned on a terrace overlooking the village, employing masonry techniques common in the medieval period.

Significant expansions occurred in 1750 under the direction of David Herrliberger. An annex was added to the original structure, complementing the overall layout and increasing living and working space within the castle. Near 1800, further enlargement transformed the building’s character from a fortified residential tower into a more expansive manor house, suitable for refined domestic life. Approximately fifty years later, a stairwell was constructed around 1850, likely to improve internal circulation and accessibility.

Inside the castle, spaces have been adapted to accommodate workshops dedicated to traditional crafts. Notably, a copper engraving workshop and a book printing workshop are located in the cellar, reflecting the castle’s past as the residence and publishing site of Herrliberger. These spaces are preserved as part of the museum’s exhibition facilities. Additionally, the Salomon Cabinet and an art chamber are present within the building, hosting rotating exhibitions that highlight local cultural heritage.

The castle’s construction primarily utilizes a masonry technique that blends rough fieldstones with carefully cut corner blocks, a method that has contributed to the preservation of the building’s integrity over centuries. Its well-maintained condition allows it to serve as a museum today, providing a tangible link to its multifaceted history as a residence, administrative center, and artistic workshop.