Neu-Schauenburg Castle

Neu-Schauenburg is a ruined castle in the commune of Frenkendorf, Switzerland. It is located near the border of France and Germany, and little of the castle remains because of geological events.

Neu-Schauenburg Castle
Ruine Neu-Schauenburg
Frenkendorf
Neu-Schauenburg from the south (2010)
Neu-Schauenburg Castle
Coordinates47°30′2.07″N 7°40′56.5″E
TypeHill castle
CodeCH-BL
Height600 m above the sea
Site information
ConditionRuins, Preserved Walls
Site history
Built12th century (possible 11th century)
MaterialsStone

History

There were two Schauenburg castles near Frenkendorf, Alt (or Old)-Schauenburg about 1 km (0.62 mi) southwest of the village on the top of Chleiflüeli hill and Neu (or New)-Schauenburg to the west. A first castle was probably built for the Lords of Schauenburg in the 11th century, however nothing is known about it. In the 13th century the original castle was replaced by a new castle. The 1356 Basel earthquake destroyed much of it, but unlike Alt-Schauenburg, it was quickly rebuilt. The Schauenburg family became extinct in 1385 and the castle became a fief under the Bishop of Basel.[1] In 1397 it was sold and then over the following centuries passed through several additional owners. However, by the 15th century, it had been abandoned and began to fall into ruin.[2]

By 1480 a group of Beguines lay sisters had occupied the towers of Neu-Schauenburg and established a cloistered house in the ruins. The order remained at Schauenburg until 1523. In 1691 mineral springs were discovered and a bath house was built near the castle ruins. In 1792 a small country estate with attached fields was built near the ruins.[2]

Origin of the name

Neu-Schauenburg was built before Alt-Schauenburg, but because Alt-Schauenburg was destroyed and abandoned first, it came to be known as the old or alt- castle.

Castle site

The castle was built on a rocky spur above the valley. It has an irregular floorplan and a gate on the north side with a 2 m (6.6 ft) thick castle wall that follows the edge of the spur. The top of the spur is divided down the center by a narrow band of rock into higher eastern and lower western halves.[1]

See also

References

  1. Swiss Castles.ch (in German) accessed 20 April 2016
  2. Schauenburg in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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