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Heiligenberg

Heiligenberg Castle

Heiligenberg Castle, built between 1538 and 1584, survived the Thirty Years’ War and continues to impress with its Renaissance splendor and its significant burial site in the castle chapel, located high above Lake Constance.

The History of the Castle

Heiligenberg Castle was built between 1538 and 1584 by the Counts of Fürstenberg on the site of a medieval castle. Remarkably, it has survived the centuries almost unchanged, even withstanding the Thirty Years’ War, during which it was the target of an attempted explosion. The castle’s lords spent little time in Heiligenberg due to their high-ranking positions in Vienna and at the Dresden court.

The Location on Lake Constance

After the extinction of the Heiligenberg branch of the House of Fürstenberg in 1716, the castle was only occasionally inhabited, such as from 1817 to 1822 by Princess Elisabeth of Fürstenberg. Nevertheless, it has preserved its beauty and grandeur in its picturesque location above Lake Constance. The impressive Knights’ Hall, with its ornate wooden ceiling, parquet floor, and portraits of ancestors, is one of the most magnificent banquet halls of the late German Renaissance. From here, there is a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

Castle Chapel & Burial Site

The castle chapel in Heiligenberg is not only a place of worship but also an important monument to the history of the Fürstenberg family. Beneath the chapel lies the family burial site of the House of Fürstenberg, established in 1586. Significant figures, such as Prince Max Egon II. (1863–1941), are buried here. The archaic-looking crucifix by sculptor Hans Wimmer is a particular treasure of the castle.
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