Hitzkirch Castle

The Teutonic Order Commandery in Hitzkirch was founded shortly before 1237, presumably at the seat of the Lords of Hitzkirch (estate with private church), last mentioned in 1235. Konrad von Teufen is considered the founder. In 1237, properties of the Order are documented in Hitzkirch, in 1241 a convent, in 1245 a commander, and in 1276 a community of sisters, which dissolved between 1300 and 1307. Despite its location on the important north-south route in the Seetal in the 12th and 13th centuries, the convent remained small. For 1307, five knight brothers and a commander are attested, for 1413 three knights, and in the early modern period one to two persons. The commanders were recruited from the Swiss or German nobility. Clergy and commandery personnel often came from the German catchment area of the Order. After the commander Hans Albrecht von Mülinen's conversion in 1528, Lucerne annexed Hitzkirch in 1531 and appointed Swiss clerics as commanders. In 1542, Hitzkirch was returned to the Order. Hitzkirch was the only one of five Swiss commanderies of the Teutonic Order to survive the Reformation. After 1425, it served as a lodging for the bailiff's administration of the Freie Ämter in the Hitzkirch district. The commandery established a parish school no later than the mid-16th century. From 1649-69, Hitzkirch was assigned to the Land Commander of Alsace and Burgundy for the rehabilitation of the war-damaged Order. In 1744, Johann Caspar Bagnato began the new construction of the commandery as a three-wing complex; this was extended by an east wing in 1935 and restored in 1987-90. In 1806, the Canton of Lucerne, to which Hitzkirch had been assigned in 1803, abolished the knightly houses and took over the domains. In the 19th century, especially in 1819, sales and auctions took place. From 1868-2005, the buildings housed the Cantonal Teacher Training College. Since 2007, the Intercantonal Police School has been located here.