Bernegg Castle (Ruin) (Hinwil)

The Bernegg ruin is located northeast of Hinwil in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It can be easily reached in a few minutes from the parking lot below Girenbad. It is a typical example of one of the numerous clearance castles built in the 12th and 13th centuries in the region around Wald, but without ever achieving historical significance.

Due to its location on a hilltop on the north and northwest side at the edge of the Wildbach gorge, the castle was naturally well protected by a 40-meter high steep slope. On the other sides, moats were dug, which are still clearly visible today. A second moat was laid out on the east side, where the access presumably lay.

The two-part trapezoidal complex, measuring 25 by 13.5 meters, follows the plateau edge on the north side. The approximately 2-meter thick outer walls consisted of boulders, Nagelfluh, tuff, and sandstone blocks. The residential wing was probably in the eastern part, while the western half housed the castle courtyard with wooden economic buildings. Unfortified forecourts were located outside the walls on the west and east sides. The inner dividing wall and the gate were reconstructed in 1935 based on finds. A keep does not seem to have existed.

The Lords of Bernegg are first mentioned in documents in 1229; the castle was probably built around the same time. The Lords of Bernegg served the Abbey of St. Gallen and the Counts of Rapperswil. Identical first names and joint appearances in witness lists indicate close connections to the Lords of Landenberg.

The income from the small lordship was not sufficient to guarantee the knightly family an existence in the long term. In the last third of the 13th century, more and more goods had to be sold. Part of the property was already sold to the Commandery of Bubikon of the Order of St. John in 1277, and the castle itself was sold in 1283. The sales contract stipulated that the complex had to be demolished by the Lords of Bernegg within three weeks: Unde dar nach in drien wochin die burgmure alle unde den bu dar inne sol uf die erde brechin. The lack of finds indicates that the castle was systematically cleared before its demolition.

The Lords of Bernegg are traceable until 1318. After that, they either died out or continued to live elsewhere under different names. Around 1900, no wall remains were visible. In 1923, Bernegg was excavated for the first time, but an archaeological investigation did not take place. Further renovations occurred in 1935 and 1939. The complex was last renovated in 1974.