Schnabelburg Castle

The Schnabelburg is a castle ruin near the village of Hausen am Albis in the canton of Zurich. In 1185, Walter I, Baron of Eschenbach, named himself after the newly built castle. However, it is not entirely clear whether it was indeed the same castle whose ruin is known today. Archaeological investigations of the castle complex have shown that the castle was probably built in the 13th century, and very hastily. However, no traces have been found in the vicinity of the visible ruin that would indicate that another castle was built first.

In 1218, the last Duke of Zähringen, with whom the castle owners were connected, died, and thus began the economic decline of the family of the Lords of Eschenbach-Schnabelburg.

With Berchtold III von Eschenbach, a friend of Rudolf I von Habsburg became the new lord of Schnabelburg in 1270. Berchtold II fought with the Habsburgs in the decisive Battle of Marchfeld against Ottokar of Bohemia in 1278. It can be assumed that the Eschenberg knight fell in the decisive battle near Göllheim in 1298, as he disappeared from the records at that time.

A son of Berchtold, Walter von Eschenbach, helped assassinate King Albrecht I von Habsburg in 1308. He was subsequently outlawed by the empire. In August 1309, the Habsburgs then besieged and conquered Schnabelburg in revenge for the regicide. According to archaeological findings, the castle was either not destroyed during the siege or was rebuilt later.

In 1955, excavation work was carried out at the ruin by Hugo Schneider and conservation measures were undertaken.