Lenzburg Castle - is it worth a visit in 2025?

9 Highlights at Lenzburg Castle

• Lenzburg Castle is a knight and dragon castle from the Middle Ages. It is one of the oldest hilltop castles in Switzerland.
• The medieval castle complex has a spacious courtyard, a later added knight's house and a baroque garden
• Medieval concerts and dance courses or experience days in the castle are among the regular events.
• A museum inside the castle informs about the life of people in the Middle Ages. Knights, noblemen and scoundrels are presented
• In the rose garden of the museum you can relax surrounded by the fine scent of roses.
• The public guided tour "Judge, Executioner, Miscreant" introduces you to the ancient administration of justice and lets you experience a prison cell first hand.
• For the public guided tour "With 5 objects through space and time" you choose these objects yourself and experience the stories behind them.
• The Children's Museum lets your kids tinker and paint in knight and princess outfits or explore dragons. In this way, they experience a bit of everyday life in the castle 1000 years ago.
• The magnificent panorama from the castle hill at 508 m above sea level offers a view of other Aargau castles in the surrounding area.

The Offer at Lenzburg Castle

Aargau is known for its many majestic castles. How you want to explore Lenzburg Castle is entirely up to you. You can either discover it on your own or book one of the guided tours.

The Museum

The museum and the various exhibitions at Lenzburg Castle are great for both kids and adults. In the residential museum, you embark on a journey through time from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, including the prison with its original cells.

The children’s museum is a real paradise. There, kids can dress up, craft, paint, and explore the castle's secret corners. There’s also a children’s exhibition from time to time to learn even more about the Middle Ages.

Overall, the museum has so much to offer. There are always new exhibitions, so get ready to be surprised.

Private Tours at Lenzburg Castle

Lenzburg Castle offers two different private tours. They have a group rate and must be reserved in advance.

Castle History in 20 Minutes

In this short outdoor tour, you will learn who lived at Lenzburg Castle in the past and how these personalities left their mark on history.

• Duration: 20-30 minutes
• Group size: up to about 50 people

1000 Years of Castle History

In this one-hour tour, you will gain a closer insight into the lives of knights, local magistrates, and nobles over the last 1000 years. You can select the focus you prefer:

• Knightly and Noble Life in the Middle Ages

• Everyday Life in the Middle Ages

• Law and Punishment in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

• Through Space and Time (all epochs)

• Duration: 60 minutes

• Group size: up to 20 people

The History of Lenzburg Castle

Lenzburg Castle is one of the most significant and oldest hill castles in Switzerland. The Counts of Lenzburg settled here in the early 11th century. Later, in the 13th century, the Habsburgs took possession of the castle, expanding it with a gatehouse, a residential building, and fortifications.

After the Confederates conquered Aargau in 1414, a Bernese bailiff also resided here, enlarging the castle with a bakery and other buildings.

However, the history of the castle is quite complex and extensive, as Lenzburg changed owners frequently. Notably, the poet Frank Wedekind grew up here. The polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth owned the castle starting in 1911.

Since 1956, the castle has belonged to the city of Lenzburg, which, together with the canton of Aargau, established a foundation. The historical building has been restored and opened to the public. Now, Lenzburg is accessible to visitors from April to October.

Swiss Activities Tips for Lenzburg Castle

Visit the Courtyard

Don't miss the beautiful courtyard, especially on a nice day. Surrounded by flowers and trees, you can take a break in the shade and relax. From the southern and western bastions, you'll also get a unique view of the city of Lenzburg with the Jura mountains in the background.

Check out the Children's Museum

Traveling with kids? Make sure to set aside enough time for the Children's Museum. They will be able to run wild there, discover hidden corners of the building, try on costumes, and craft and paint as much as they want.

Stock up on Souvenirs

The museum shop offers a wide range of postcards, jewelry, and other keepsakes. The regional products, like syrup or jam, are also lovely gifts.

If you're interested in other castles in Switzerland, we recommend checking out our further articles:

• The 20 Must-See Castles in Switzerland.
• Chillon Castle
• Wildegg Castle

Catering in Lenzburg Castle

The castle bistro is located in the Bernerhaus and is only accessible with an entrance fee to the castle (without the museum). It is run by the Mercure Hotel Krone and operates on a self-service basis. There you can order drinks, hot dishes, cakes and snacks for a short break or to linger.

You can pay with CHF, EUR or card (Maestro, Visa, Mastercard)

Opening hours Lenzburg Castle

Lenzburg Castle is open from April to October including Sundays and public holidays

How to Get to Lenzburg Castle

Lenzburg Castle is located in the Aargau canton, above the old town of Lenzburg on the 508-meter-high castle hill.

by Car

The best way to reach Lenzburg Castle by car is via the A1 motorway. Take the Lenzburg exit and drive up the castle hill from outside the old town. From Zurich, it takes about 40 minutes, from Basel and Lucerne around 50 minutes, and from Bern about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The castle grounds are a car-free zone that can only be used for dropping off or picking up people with disabilities. However, there are marked parking spaces further down. From the parking lot, it's about a 10 to 15-minute walk.

by Public Transport

You can conveniently reach Lenzburg by train. From Lenzburg station, it's about a 20 to 30-minute walk up to the castle. The path leads you through the old town before heading up to the castle. If you want to speed things up, you can take the regional bus 391 from SBB railway station to the castle parking lot or Kronenplatz. The bus ride takes about 8 minutes.

Practical Information

Things to Keep in Mind

• No dogs are allowed inside the castle, except for service animals.
• Not all facilities and exhibition areas are accessible to people with disabilities.

Lenzburg Castle is a popular destination in the Aargau canton. Combined with the charming old town of Lenzburg, the castle is perfect for a half-day or full-day trip.