Syrgenstein Castle

Castle, later Syrgenstein Castle
Syrgenstein Castle
Alternative name (s):	Sürgenstein, Sirgenstein
Creation time :	New building in 1496 after fire
Castle type :	Hillside castle
Conservation status:	Preserved and inhabited by the owner
Standing position :	Barons
Place:	Syrgenstein near Heimenkirch
Geographical location	47 ° 39 '29.2 "  N , 9 ° 55' 9.8"  E Coordinates: 47 ° 39 '29.2 "  N , 9 ° 55' 9.8"  E

Syrgenstein Castle - also called Sürgenstein - is the only preserved castle in the Lindau district (Lake Constance) . It is located on the northern edge of the municipality of Heimenkirch (map) and stands on a Nagelfluh rock above the left bank of the Upper Argen opposite Eglofs . Syrgenstein Castle is municipal to Heimenkirch, postal to Argenbühl and (catholic) clerical to Maria-Thann .

history

Syrgenstein Castle

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

The wealthy Veit Sürg bought back the Syrgenstein property with castle stables, which had been lost among his ancestors, between 1480 and 1490 and built today's castle. The Sürgen were later by Emperor Ferdinand III. raised to the imperial baron status.

The rebuilding of the church in Heimenkirch put Syrgenstein Castle in serious danger in 1841. In their search for inexpensive building materials, the Heimenkirchner considered buying the castle, which was then for sale, and using it as a quarry. Fortunately, the costs of the demolition work and the transport of the stones thwarted the project.

Today the castle is owned by the Swabian family Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems and is not open to the public.

Castle owner

Veit Sürg and descendants

• In 1482, Veit Sürg acquired the Syrgenstein castle stable with the surrounding property from Hans Müller zu Eglofs. According to another source, the foundation stone was laid in June 1491. However, various documents show that 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.
  • Son Hans Ulrich (mentioned between 1511 and 1551) expanded the castle further.
    • His son Veit (mentioned between 1558 and 1578) fell in the Netherlands.
    • His older brother Hans, who already owned the Achberg estate , was then 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 under Johann Gotthard to the Syrgenstein zu Altenberg line (at Altenberg Castle near Syrgenstein in the Dillingen district on the Danube ).
  • In 1766 he handed over the property to his son Johann Germann.
    • 1795 to his son Johann Marquard (1768–1812), who was also known as a regional poet.
      • Johann Marquard's only daughter Caroline had to give up in 1824 after the death of his father Syrgenstein because of a mortgage secured claim from the relatives.

different owners

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

Waldburg-Syrgenstein

• Sophie Countess von Waldburg – Zeil-Wurzach (1857–1924) bought the property from Whittle in 1882 and in the same year married her 16-year-old cousin Karl Graf von Waldburg-Zeil (1841–1890), whom the Bavarian King named Waldburg in 1885 -Syrgenstein allowed.
• After Karl's death, the widow married the kuk diplomatic agent and consul general in Egypt from Heidler-Egeregg in 1891, who was promoted to baron status in December 1891. In 1897 he was allowed to associate his name with Syrgenstein, whereupon he called himself Heidler von Egeregg and Syrgenstein . Both of Sophie's marriages remained childless.

Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems

• In 1913 Georg Graf 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, whose family property still owns it today.

literature

• Wilhelm Sahner: Maria Thann [Kr. Lindau], including Syrgenstein Castle. Church art guide. Self-published, Gelsenkirchen-Buer 1966.
• Ludwig Zenetti: The Surgers. History of the Barons of Syrgenstein . Seitz in commission, Augsburg 1965 ( Swabian genealogy. Volume 1).

Web links

Commons : Syrgenstein Castle  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Ralf Hartmann: Syrgenstein Castle on the portal Dein Allgäu.
2. ^ History of the Ratzenried castle ruins. Heimatverein Ratzenried, accessed on December 22, 2012 . 
3. ↑ See additional note in: Josef Reitemann: The old English cemetery in Syrgenstein . Ed .: Local Home Care & History Working Group / Hergatz. Hergatz ( online on the Hergatz community website, undated [accessed on July 20, 2011]).
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Zenetti: Die Sürgen. Augsburg 1965, pp. 19-21.
5. ↑ Ravensburger Certificate: In 1496 Veit Sürg Sürgenstein [d. H. rebuild the castle] again, then it would hardly be possible to feast on it together with your written documents.
6. ^ Marquard von Syrgenstein
7. ^ Poems by Marquard Baron von Syrgenstein 1798
8. ^ Graf up to 1919, see Nobility Repeal Act .