Elgg Castle, the Hauenstein Ruins and the Guhwilmühle
22 May 2026
It is only a few kilometres from Elgg Castle to the thousand-year-old Hauenstein Castle on the summit of the Hauenberg. What both castles have in common is that they can no longer be seen in their original form.
Elgg
Elgg Castle, Kyburg Castle and the Hauenstein ruins
Elgg Castle, however, is still inhabited, whereas Hauenstein has lain in ruins since the 14th century! The proximity to Kyburg Castle and its rich history underscores the significance of this area. The decision by noble lords to build castles here at that time was not motivated by the beautiful natural surroundings. It was a strategically important location due to its role in trade, customs, agriculture, and industry.
The Guhwil Mill
Between Elgg and Hauenstein lies yet another historical gem. The old post station and mill, Guhwil Mill (Guhwilmühle) served for centuries as a farm with livestock, a restaurant, a rest stop for travellers and a horse-changing station. The old milk shed for storing milk and the horse stable are reminders of this era.
What has not changed is the natural landscape, characterised by ravines (shallow gorges with streams), meadows, fields, forests and gentle mountain slopes.
The castle ruins on the Schauenberg
The castle ruins on the Schauenberg (892 m) overlook all the surrounding hills, and their location, jutting far into the Swiss Plateau, gives the mountain and the castle ruins a special place in the history of the Tösstal valley.
Around 1200, the first wooden castle was built, a simple noble residence. Presumably, in the mid-13th century, the castle was converted into a solidly built residential tower. The first written mention of Schauenberg Castle (castro Schowenberg) dates to 1260, but Rudolf von Schauenberg appears in the sources as early as 1242. In 1344, the castle was destroyed by Austrian officials together with people from Zurich and Winterthur.
And yet Schauenberg has not been consigned to history. Due to the dangers posed by the Thirty Years’ War and the internal religious conflict between the cantons, the Zurich authorities felt compelled to establish a watch system after 1622. Since then, peace has reigned on the mountain; only peaceful walkers visit the mountain and the ruins to enjoy the panorama and the view over the Tösstal valley.
The municipality of Turbenthal
The village of Turbenthal, situated at the foot of the mountain, was never a farming village. As early as the 15th century, there are records of weavers, craftsmen and tradespeople of all kinds, such as innkeepers, millers, barbers and shearers.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, too, spinning mills and weaving mills dominated economic life. The entire area (with the exception of the hamlet of Neubrunn) belonged to the County of Kyburg. In 1452, Zurich purchased this county, and the municipality of Turbenthal has been part of the Canton of Zurich ever since.
The Swiss Alpine Club (Schweizer Alpen Club, SAC/Club Alpin Suisse, CAS) organises ski tours, hiking trips, and other sports in the high mountains and other areas.
(Source and further information: Gemeinde Elgg; Gemeinde Turbenthal)
