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CastleHeimenkirch

Syrgenstein Castle

Syrgenstein Castle
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To be privately owned

Syrgenstein Castle – also known as Sürgenstein – is the only preserved castle in the district of Lindau (Lake Constance). It is located on the northern edge of the municipality of Heimenkirch and stands on a Nagelfluh rock above the left bank of the Upper Argen opposite Eglofs. Syrgenstein Castle belongs communally to Heimenkirch, postally to Argenbühl, and (Catholic) clerically to Maria-Thann.

The predecessor castle was first mentioned in a document in 1265. There are different interpretations regarding the origin of the Sürgen, who belonged to the lower knightly nobility. In any case, they made a name for themselves as commanders and hereditary marshals, as imperial master chefs and auxiliary bishops, and were members of the knighthood of the Georgenschild. At times, they also owned the castles of Ratzenried, Amtzell, and Achberg.

The wealthy Veit Sürg bought back the Syrgenstein property, including the castle site, which had been lost by his ancestors, in the years around 1480 to 1490 and built the present castle. The Sürgen were later elevated to the status of Imperial Barons by Emperor Ferdinand III.

The new construction of the church in Heimenkirch seriously endangered Syrgenstein Castle in 1841. In their search for cheap building materials, the people of Heimenkirch considered buying the castle, which was then for sale, and using it as a quarry. Fortunately, the costs for the demolition work and the transport of the stones thwarted the plan.

The castle is now owned by the Swabian Waldburg-Zeil family and is not publicly accessible.

Castle Owners+

Veit Sürg and Descendants

  • Veit Sürg acquired the Syrgenstein castle site with surrounding property from Hans Müller zu Eglofs in 1482. According to another source (Hartmann), the foundation stone was laid as early as June 1491. Various documents show that a Syrgenstein Castle already existed in 1483. This new building most likely burned down, because according to another document, Veit Sürg had the castle rebuilt in 1496.
  • His son Hans Ulrich (mentioned between 1511 and 1551) further expanded the castle.
  • His son Veit (mentioned between 1558 and 1578) fell in the Netherlands.
  • His elder brother Hans, who already owned the lordship of Achberg, then became the owner of the castle.
  • The property then passed to his grandsons Hans Georg and Johann Joachim, the descendants of his son Hans Ulrich (mentioned between 1595 and 1618).
  • Johann Joseph (son of Johann Joachim) died childless.
  • Brother-in-law Johann Christoph Rupert (1697–1766) took over, but died without a male heir.

Syrgenstein zu Altenberg

  • Syrgenstein Castle came to the Syrgenstein zu Altenberg line under Johann Gotthard.
  • He handed over the property to his son Johann Germann in 1766.
  • In 1795 to his son Johann Marquard.
  • Johann Marquard's only daughter Caroline had to give up Syrgenstein in 1824 after her father's death due to a mortgage-secured claim from relatives.

Various Owners

  • The royal salt factor Josef Schmied (or Schmid) from Simmerberg and Rudolf Lingg from Hergensweiler were awarded the bid in the forced auction. In 1830, Schmied bought Lingg's share and became sole owner.
  • After his death in 1840, his widow Josefa tried to sell the property. In 1841, sales negotiations with the municipality of Heimenkirch failed; fortunately, one must say today, because the municipality intended to demolish the castle and use the material for the new church. Finally, the castle went to Andreas Sporer (or Sperer) from Ravensburg in 1844 (or 1845).
  • Sporer sold it to August von Clermont in 1849.
  • Through a forced auction, the property came to the main creditor Margarete Sinz in 1853.
  • Philip August Freiherr von Künsberg from Regensburg acquired the castle from her in 1854.
  • The successor as castle owner in 1858 for 24 years was the Irishman (or Englishman) James Whittle, who prevented the sinking of the eastern tower with a new foundation. The so-called English Cemetery near the castle also dates from his time.

Waldburg-Syrgenstein

  • Sophie Countess of Waldburg–Zeil-Wurzach (1857−1924) bought the property from Whittle in 1882 and married her 16-year-older cousin Karl Count of Waldburg-Zeil (1841–1890) in the same year, to whom the Bavarian king allowed the name unification of Waldburg-Syrgenstein in 1885.
  • After Karl's death, the widow married the k.u.k. diplomatic agent and consul general in Egypt von Heidler–Egeregg in 1891, who was elevated to the baronial status in December 1891. In 1897, he was allowed the name unification with Syrgenstein, whereupon he called himself Heidler von Egeregg und Syrgenstein. Both of Sophie's marriages remained childless.

Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems

  • In 1913, Georg Count Waldburg-Zeil (from the Austrian line Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems) bought the property from his aunt Sophie.
  • After his death in 1955, the castle passed to his son Josef Waldburg–Zeil, in whose family possession it remains to this day.

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.

Location: 47.6581, 9.9194