Eppishausen Castle (Erlen)

The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1190. In 1405, it was destroyed by the Appenzellers; at that time, the owners were the Lords of Helmsdorf and Bernhausen. In 1698, the Benedictine monastery of Muri acquired it. In the same year, the St. Alban's Chapel was rebuilt. Between 1760 and 1763, the castle was redesigned in the Baroque style. From 1823 to 1837, it was owned by the Germanist and writer Joseph von Lassberg, who later acquired Meersburg Castle.

During this time, Lassberg called himself "Master Sepp von Eppishusen" and received many famous contemporaries in his unique library, including the poet Ludwig Uhland and the Thurgau historian Johann Pupikofer. In 1835, during her "Swiss Year," the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff stayed at Eppishausen Castle with Lassberg and his wife Jenny, née Baroness Droste zu Hülshoff. For example, her poem cycle "Der Säntis" and the most powerful of her letters with descriptions of the Alpine landscape were created in the castle park. From 1853, Colonel Salomon Hegner resided at Eppishausen Castle. Today, the building houses a private retirement home.