Top 20 Castles around Hard

The historic Wartensee Castle, dating from the 13th century, is located on the Rorschacherberg hill. It also features a historic chapel, and the castle itself houses a Gothic hall. From the beautiful garden terrace, one has a breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Constance.

The Deuringschlössle (also Deuringschlößle) is a former residence in the upper town of Bregenz. The core of the three-story manor house dates back to the 14th/15th century and is located in the southwest corner of Bregenz's upper town, a short distance from the city wall. In 1539, the small manor house belonged to Hans von Wolfurt. In 1647, it was damaged by the Swedes during the capture of Bregenz. Johann Albert von Deuring acquired the manor house in 1660 and had it significantly enlarged by 1702, building up the open space between the manor house and the city wall. The gun tower at the southwest corner of the city wall was raised, given an onion dome, and incorporated into the building. An extension was added to the southeast side in 1698, and the "Torkel" (wine cellar) was built to the east in 1702. Michael and Johann Georg Kuen may have significantly influenced this structural redesign. The Deuring family were wealthy timber merchants from Bregenz who were raised to the knightly nobility in 1621. The Deuringschlössle remained in the family's possession until 1801. The next owners were the governor and district captain Johann Jakob von Vicari, and twenty years later, the Imperial and Royal Rent Master Christoph Anton Kayser, who established the Rent Office here. After his death, the building was inherited by the Swiss architect Johann Anton von Tscharner-Merhart, who commissioned an interior renovation in the historicist style in 1915. In 1927, the upper floor of the former wine press was converted into an artist's studio, the so-called Knight's Hall. From 1989 to 2015, the Deuringschlössle was used as a gourmet hotel.

Around 1100, the Count of Bregenz built the castle on a rocky outcrop of the Gebhardsberg, high above the city. "Sunken in holy enthusiasm..." begins a poem inspired by Hohen Bregenz Castle. In 1143, the castle passed to the Counts of Pulllendorf, and shortly thereafter, around 1170, to Count Palatine Hugo II of Tübingen (father of Hugo I, Count of Montfort). The upper part of the castle was sold to the Habsburgs in 1451, and the lower part in 1523, and the castle became the seat of Austrian bailiffs. Converted into a fortress at the beginning of the 17th century, the Swedes blew up large sections of the castle during the Thirty Years' War. The circular wall and parts of the palace survived. The attached church became a popular place of pilgrimage in honor of Saint Gebhard. The old sacristan's house, which has since been converted into a restaurant, looks forward to your visit. Even today, the fantastic view over the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance attracts numerous visitors.

A manor house was built here between the 14th and 15th centuries. Around 1700, the gaps between the house and the city wall were closed.

Well-preserved old buildings, the likes of which are no longer found in the lower town.

The Deuringschlössle and the Martinsturm dominate the silhouette of Bregenz's upper town. The mighty bastions of the city wall and the round corner tower still show the original defensive strength. The former gun tower was extended to an octagonal shape in the 17th century and given a slightly oversized onion dome, in keeping with the spirit of the Baroque era.

Beautiful castle in the old town, very nicely located. Beautiful old houses 👍

After the climb, the trip to the castle is worth it for the view. Great view over the lake.