The first surviving document, which mentions the Lords of Heidegg, dates from 1185. For many centuries feudal Heidegg Castle, built in the 12th and 13th centuries was their home. Century. Today it houses the history and culture center of the Seetal valley. A living museum in which you learn stories and customs of aristocratic families, with the spirit of the past further rekindled with a stroll in the large park with its beautiful rose garden.
The castle complex with its tower, chapel and residential buildings is surrounded by lush forests and idyllic vineyards. Starting at the famous rose gardens, visitors can explore the park on romantic paths and discover its chestnut-lined boulevards, rest areas and the 'Tobelweg'. The castle tower holds the oldest living quarters in Canton Lucerne. Exhibitions and hands-on attractions for young and old alike ensure that visitors experience Heidegg Castle and its history in unique and often surprising ways.
Built during the Middle Ages, the foundations of the modern castle tower might originally have served as the castle's palas, which by 1237 had been expanded into a fortified tower by of the Lords of Heidegg. During the Late Middle Ages the tower was remodelled into a more comfortable castle. After the decline of the Heidegg and Büsiger families the castle was taken over by Lucerne's patricians, who had gained their wealth through trade and foreign military service. The Pfyffer family further reconstructed the tower in a Baroque but still fairly historicist style, inspired by medieval architecture. During the 18th century the city of Lucerne acquired Heidegg Castle, which was later turned over to the canton. A distinctly aristocratic lifestyle was once again celebrated within the castle walls when the Pfyffer von Heidegg family once again moved in in 1875. However, when the last member of the family left it to the canton in 1950, the tower was turned into a museum. Since the last renovations that took place from 1995 to 1998 the Foundation Pro Heidegg has been in charge of running and maintaining the castle and park.
References:Château de Niort is a medieval castle in the French town of Niort. It consists of two square towers, linked by a 15th-century building and dominates the Sèvre Niortaise valley.
The two donjons are the only remaining part of the castle. The castle was started by Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century and completed by Richard the Lionheart. It was defended by a rectangular curtain wall and was damaged during the Wars of Religion. In the 18th century, the castle served as a prison.
The present keeps were the central point of a massive fortress. The southern keep is 28m tall, reinforced with turrets. The northern tower is slightly shorter at 23m. Both are flanked with circular turrets at the corners as well as semicircular buttresses. Each of the towers has a spiral staircase serving the upper floors. The Romanesque architecture is of a high quality with the dressed stones closely jointed.