Alt-Homburg Castle

The Homburg was built around 1100 by the Counts of Froburg. Rudolf von Froburg (mentioned in 1082) lived in the castle with his wife Ita von Habsburg. From their marriage sprang Werner and Rudolf Herrmann IV von Froburg, who had married the heiress of the last Count of Alt-Homburg. In the 13th century, they moved to Neu-Homburg above Läufelfingen. Their son Ludwig I, husband of the Countess Elisabeth von Rapperswil, died in battle before Bern in 1289. The widow moved back to her former home on Lake Zurich. It became quiet at Homburg - only a few servants kept faithful watch here.

After the extinction of the Neu-Homburgers in 1323, the castle passed to Countess Maria von Oettingen. On August 8, 1351, Duke Albrecht of Austria bought the entire castle district here at the castle for 400 Marks. Thus, the Austrians were in possession of the Homburg. The last Hornburger, Count Werner III (died 1323), was famous as a young minnesinger, as a warrior on the Prussian campaigns, and even more as an imperial condottiere in Italy. On St. Luke's Day, October 18, 1356, the castle was almost completely destroyed during the so-called Basel earthquake. In 1486, there is talk of the "desolate castle at Weitnauw". In 1882/84, the ruin was excavated - unfortunately not professionally enough. The finds are located at Lenzburg.