Greifensee Castle

The origins of Greifensee Castle date back to the 13th century, when the Counts of Rapperswil erected a fortification to secure their northern possessions. In 1300, Countess Elisabeth of Rapperswil mortgaged the castle to Knight Hermann II von Landenberg. The Landenbergs expanded the complex but had to sell it to the Counts of Toggenburg in 1369. In 1402, Greifensee came into the possession of the city of Zurich as a pledge, which definitively acquired it in 1419, making it the first bailiwick. During the Old Zurich War, the castle was besieged and partially destroyed by Central Swiss troops in May 1444. The surviving defenders were executed after their surrender. It was not until 1520 that the Zurich Council decided to rebuild it as a castle. Until 1798, it served as the seat of the Zurich bailiffs, including Salomon Landolt. In the 19th century, it was privately owned and underwent several renovations before the Canton of Zurich repurchased it in 1935. Since 1995, it has been used by the Greifensee Castle Foundation as a cultural venue.

Greifensee Castle is located in the municipality of Greifensee in the Uster district, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It is situated at an elevation of approx. 444 meters above sea level.

Visitors can explore Greifensee Castle today. It serves as a venue for cultural encounters, further education, and information.

• Uster Castle (Castle), approx. 3.9 km away
• Dübelstein Ruin (Dübendorf) (Castle), approx. 4.8 km away
• Moosburg Ruin (Effretikon) (Castle), approx. 6.7 km away
• Wulp Ruin (Küsnacht) (Castle), approx. 7.1 km away