Elgg Castle

The first documented mention of the complex dates back to 1166. Until 1289, it served as the seat of the Meier of Elgg, who were subject to the Abbey of St. Gallen. Subsequently, the Habsburgs exercised jurisdiction until 1425, before it passed to the Zurichers, who used the building for legal purposes until 1798. In 1576, the Zurich banneret Hans Heinrich Lochmann acquired the castle and had it rebuilt and expanded into a palace in 1580. After his childless death in 1590, the property changed hands several times. In 1599, it passed to the imperial council Bonaventura Bodeck, who also acquired jurisdiction. His son Melchior Bodeck sold the castle in 1637 to Peter Sulzer of Winterthur.