| Arbon Castle | |
|---|---|
Schloss Arbon | |
| Arbon | |
 Arbon Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Arbon, Historisches Museum Arbon |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Location | |
  Arbon Castle | |
| Coordinates | 47°30′56″N9°26′13″E / 47.515662°N 9.436979°E /47.515662; 9.436979 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
Arbon Castle is a formercastle and now theHistorisches Museum Arbon (Arbon History Museum) located in themunicipality ofArbon of theCanton of Thurgau inSwitzerland. It is a Swissheritage site of national significance.[1]
A castle in Arbon is first mentioned in 720 in a history ofSt. Gall Abbey. It stood on or near the site of theRoman eraArbor Felix fortress from 250 AD. After the Romans retreated south of the Alps around 400, the old fortress was abandoned. Sometime later aFrankish castle was built in Arbon probably for the Frankish royal family. By around 700, Arbon and presumably the castle, were the property of thediocese of Constance and an ecclesiastic overseer orbailiff ruled over Arbon.[2]
The oldest part of the current castle is a 13th-century, originally free standing, residential tower. The tower may have been built on the foundation of an earlier building. The lower walls are up to 3.2 meters (10 ft) thick. Inside the castle there are twoRomanesque fireplaces. In 1515-20 the BishopHugo von Hohenlandenberg rebuilt the castle to its current appearance. The old tower was rebuilt into a U shape. The upper most story, thegables and thehip roof are also from this reconstruction. The outer wall of the castle moved to stand exactly over the north-west corner of the Roman era fortress.[3]
In 1822 the Stoffel silk ribbon weaving company moved into the castle. They remained there until 1907. In 1911 the castle was bought by Adolph Saurer, the founder ofAdolph Saurer AG. He built workshops around the castle building as he experimented with motors, trucks and machinery. In 1944 his son, Hippolyt Saurer sold the castle to the city for 150,000Swiss francs.[2] The city renovated and expanded the castle and in 1967 opened theHistorisches Museum Arbon (Arbon History Museum).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
