Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee Former castle residents are waiting to chat with visitors! Wildegg Castle is the castle of talking portraits: in the ancestral portrait gallery and the living history museum, former castle residents are waiting to chat with visitors. They include Julie von Effinger, the last owner of Wildegg Castle, who recounts anecdotes from her everyday life. Throughout the castle, large portraits of the von Effinger family come to life and tell of the past in a lively and entertaining way. An impressive living history museum With its more than 30 beautifully furnished rooms, Wildegg Castle offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the nobility and their servants. The banqueting hall, salon and dining room – complete with tables set for meals – state rooms as well as the kitchens and maids' quarters – as described by Sophie von Erlach-Effinger in the castle chronicle – can all be visited. You can also explore the narrow confines of the servants' rooms under the roof, visit the maid in the entrance hall, or sit on the windowsill like Julie von Effinger and gaze into the magnificent palace garden. Exhibition on Wildegg Castle: Living history museum and ancestral portrait gallery. Former castle residents are waiting to chat with visitors!
Discussion Lab Admission Museum entrance fee Registration Not required (recommended for schools) Hundreds of questions in one room Built around 1600, the Parlatorium was one of the few rooms in the abbey where speaking was once permitted. Today, Museum Aargau invites visitors here to engage in conversation about faith, power and knowledge – and poses hundreds of questions on these topics. Choose one of them and embark on a journey of discovery through the Parlatorium: through conversation, play, or via interactive text, image and film installations. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with pupils from the Wettingen Cantonal School, which is also based on the monastery peninsula. Their perspectives on the themes of faith, power and knowledge build bridges between this place's past and the present day. At the weekend, school pupils usually welcome visitors to the Parlatorium. They have been trained as hosts for this role. The Parlatorium at Wettingen Abbey was one of the few rooms in the abbey where speaking was once permitted.
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee 0 A place of meditation with a significant series of stained-glass windows The well-preserved cloister, with its Romanesque and Gothic tracery, evokes the tranquillity that once characterised life within these walls. Small gravestones of monks buried here are set into the flagstone floor. At the heart of the cloister lies the idyllic cloister garden. The cycle of stained-glass windows in the cloister is particularly valuable. Private donors, friendly abbeys and the Swiss cantons have all donated these significant cabinet windows to Wettingen Abbey. The earliest examples date back to the 13th century. Cloister Chapel with the Wettingen Christ Child Above the altar of the Cloister Chapel hangs the sacred image of the "Wettingen Christ Child". The wooden painting miraculously survived the devastating abbey fire on White Sunday in 1507. The monks saw this as a sign from heaven. The "Christ Child", marked by burn holes, has been venerated ever since. The cloister at Wettingen Abbey: a significant series of stained-glass windows. An exhibition by Museum Aargau.
Rose garden Admission Entrance free A major attraction for rose lovers The rose garden of Wildegg Castle is a major attraction for rose lovers. Numerous historical roses with rose arches, as well as English roses and hybrid tea roses, can be found here. Laid out in around 1830 it's a magnificent sight, especially during the main flowering period in June, replete with carefully tended, historical and rare roses. For weddings, the rose garden is a popular backdrop for photo shoots. It's also the perfect place to sit on a bench and read a gripping detective story. The small park near the historic wine cellar has been maintained free of charge for many years by the Aargau Regional Group of the Society of Swiss Rose Enthusiasts. Rose garden on Wildegg Castle: A major attraction for rose lovers!
Permanent exhibition Price Museum/garden admission 0 Nine interactive stations about viticulture The Wildegg Castle vineyard trail tells the story of the hard but rewarding work of winegrowers in centuries past. At nine interactive stations, built from old wine barrels, visitors discover the challenges of winegrowing: from tending the vines in winter to the dangers posed by weather, pests and diseases, right through to the grape harvest in autumn. Special attention is paid to the Effinger family, who used viticulture as their economic basis for centuries. Rebpfad Schoss Wildegg: Ausstellung über Weinbau
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee Visit Fauchi, the castle dragon! What would Lenzburg Castle be without Fauchi! The castle dragon is loved by all young visitors. At the dragon research station you can find out all about the castle's legendary inhabitant. Fauchi: are you brave enough? Anyone with enough courage can visit the castle dragon Fauchi at Lenzburg Castle. Enter his dark cave full of hissing, smoke and ominous rumbling. It's an unforgettable experience for castle visitors of all ages! According to legend, the castle dragon Fauchi hatched from a dragon egg many years ago on the castle hill. He is far less frightening than his ancestors, but meeting him can still be a little scary! Dragon research station If you want to know what the legendary dragon likes, how he lives, what his dragon skin feels like or how long his claws are before you visit Fauchi, the dragon research station is the place to go. There, young researchers can examine a collection of teeth, claws and bones, learn about the different types of dragons, and discover the secret of Fauchi's origins. Fauchi and the dragon research station. Exhibition on Lenzburg Castle. Visit Fauchi, the castle dragon!
Permanent exhibition Admission Museum entrance fee Saddle up the horses in the stables! Wildegg Castle is a paradise for families: children can play and paint in the castle barn, or saddle up the horses in the stables! Children's area: books, games and billiards There's never a dull moment in the children's area at Wildegg Castle! Here, kids can dress up as knights, set the table in the children's castle, browse through books on the elegant sofa or try out old games. They can even play a game of billiards – just as the residents of Wildegg Castle once did. Stables: saddle up the horses! In the old stables, Albert von Effinger talks to his favourite horse, while his hunting dog gives a running commentary! The wooden horses are waiting to be fed and groomed. In this exhibition, children learn what horses like to eat, how they were used in the past – and can even meet a talking horse. Sit side-saddle yourself, climb aboard the carriage, or race for the finishing line as a jockey! Exhibition on Wildegg Castle: Children's area and stables. Saddle up the horses in the stables!
Experience Wettingen Abbey! Events and public guided tours take place regularly at the abbey. Calendar of events (in German) Contact +41 (0)848 871 200 Send a message Telephone availability: Tuesday to Friday 9 am - 12 pm / 1 pm - 4:30 pm November to March only in the morning
The Museum Aargau Collection has been assembled from various holdings since 1830. It consists of bequests from Aargau's castles and monasteries, numerous donations, objects acquired from company archives and targeted purchases. The Collection is constantly being expanded and documents Aargau's history in tangible form through objects that can be experienced. Collecting, preserving, researching Collecting, preserving and researching objects are among the core tasks of a museum. A collection strategy defines the criteria according to which objects are collected. When an object is added to the Collection, it is inventoried, documented and preserved for storage by experts. If necessary, it is restored. The objects thus form the basis for research and for exhibitions that use originals to make the past come alive. The items on show in the permanent and special exhibitions of Museum Aargau (including the castles) and other cultural institutions are a mere fraction of what is stored in the Egliswil Collection Centre. Numerous objects are waiting to be exhibited and shown off to the public in the coming years.
A day trip to the Vindonissa Museum is packed with highlights for groups: start an interactive adventure tour as an archaeologist, book a guided tour or discover the exhibitions on your own. All offers can also be booked in English. In addition to self-guided tours, the Vindonissa Museum offers guided tours and tours for groups. We will be happy to arrange a suitable offer for groups with special interests. Please also note our information for people with disabilities . Why not combine your group offer with a Roman-style drinks reception? Our advice & sales team will be happy to advise you. Offers for groups (in German) Contact +41 (0)848 871 200 Send a message Telephone availability: Tuesday to Friday 9 am - 12 pm / 1 pm - 4:30 pm November to March only in the morning
3 out of 20
Habsburg Castle
Ancestral Seat of a Global Dynasty
The foundation stone of what was to become the Habsburg dynasty was laid at Habsburg Castle in around 1030. Exhibitions, guided tours and events present the history of the legendary castle and its noble family.
