370:) to demolish the upper section of the tower plinth and to add a new, probably half-timbered structure. In 1526 the wooden house burned down, and the tower was rebuilt once more to 1529. This stage of construction can be seen in historical illustrations. Perhaps about 1663 the tower received a new superstructure with stepped gables, and on its south side a narrow staircase was built. At that time the fortification was also surrounded by a wall with battlements, separated by a trench from the eastern slope of the mountain chain towards Oberuster. Among the subsequent owners the castle was furthermore rebuilt. Captain Wilhelm Schärer from Zürich repaired the tower, and built two two-storey residential tracts on the south and south-east side of the tower in 1752/53, said to have been empty for a century. Exactly one hundred years later there was a further transformation: In 1852/53 Caspar Heer removed the stepped gable of the tower by replacing it by a "Belvedere" in the center of the tower's battlements. In addition, a two-storey building was erected around the tower, being the seat of the district administration, and the tower was rebuilt as a prison. The stepped gable was replaced by a straight final with battlements, and in the middle of the tower stump a narrow tower was placed.
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645:. In 1492 a fire destroyed the castle. In 1534 Uster castle changed hands by inheritance into the possession of Ludwig von Diesbach. Frequent sales followed and one of the next owners, Hans Vogler sold all sovereign rights to the city of Zürich in 1544. The owners changed the following decades many times; the family who remained the longest the castle's owner, from 1560 to 1663, was that of Hohensax. Junker Tschudi's family from Bern was one of the next owners from 1563 to 1710. They were followed by Colonel Franz Schlatter von Graviseth's and his sons to 1750, followed by about 28 different owners within one century. In 1852 the castle became the seat of the district administration, and the tower was used as a prison. In the same year the castle was rebuilt, again, and a restaurant opened. Since 1858 the castle was in the hands of the Escher family.
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543:. Some historians suggest a fief of the St. Gallen abbey to the lords of Winterthur after disputes in 1027 AD; the feud later may belong to the Kyburg family, and not, as much of the surrounding area, to the House of Rapperswil. It is not known whether the knights of Uster mentioned as ministerials of the lords of Schnabelburg in 1249, have had a relationship with the castle. In 1267 the castle of Uster was claimed by the lords of Bonstetten which were closely related to those of Schnabelburg. In 1267 appears
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in 1407. From that moment, the castle in time of war could be strengthened by a Zürich garrison. As an
Austrian vassal, Zürich guaranteed a neutral status to the Bonstetten family, particularly during the Old Zürich War when the neighbouring town of Greifensee was besieged and destroyed by Old Swiss
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was built. Whether the castle to 1267/68, as seen in pictures, consisted only of the tower and a small ring wall, or even the whole castle hill was covered by a castle-like structure, is unknown. In 1492 a fire destroyed the majority of the structures, the residential tower burned out completely, as
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Between 1917 and 1919 the most recent redesign was carried out, and the tower rebuilt and again sided with a new, historicist superstructure, now a popular vantage point. At that time, battlements and belvedere, including the upper two tower rooms were demolished. The upper floors were rebuilt, and
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is called as a witness. The
Bonstetten family held jurisdiction on the court of Nossikon, another locality of the present city of Uster, and partially of Kirchuster. Later, the lords of Bonstetten also acquired legal rights to Wermatswil, another neighbouring locality. When the Greifensee lordship
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From the first construction phase, the lower section of the tower, up to the level of the upper floor of the today's boarding school's building around the tower base, is preserved, but never was scientifically examined, as well as the surrounding area of the plateau. Hence, the castle's history of
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in 1300 AD first to the
Landenberg family and later to the city of Zürich, the lords of Bonstetten came into close contact with the city of Zürich. Kirchuster was attached to the manor, and during the Appenzell wars, Schwyz occupied the residential tower. At the same time, the lords of Bonstetten
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There are also about 10 metres (33 ft) long remains of the circular wall at the north, but it's unknown when it was built (1663 or before), as well as the origin of the neighboured barn is not documented. The present restaurant's predecessor structure probably was demolished around 1900; in
682:, in Switzerland an endangered bird species, that's why the access to the tower is limited. The colony is characterized by hierarchy and social behavior, which is particularly evident for the mating season in the form of showdown, displays of affection and spectacular flight forms.
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the staircase of 1529 assumably integrated. In addition, the existing fenestration was unified. Despite the efforts to reconstruct a medieval appearance, the now existing upper part of the castle tower is a bit raw guessed copy of the construction phase around 1529.
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328:, David Herrliberger: based on a drawing by Hans Conrad Nözli, the 1743 publication shows the castle tower and the staircase, separated by a deep trench that is crossed by a small wooden bridge, as well as the later restaurant
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The core of the present tower measures about 11.06 metres (36 ft) with about 3.4 metres (11 ft) thick sandstone walls which date back to around 1200 AD when on the hill, immediately behind the
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at an elevation of 496 m (1,627 ft) and comprises an area of about 30 metres (98 ft) from west to east and 35 metres (115 ft) from south to north. The castle is located above the
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Anno domini 1492 verbran das Schloßz zu Ustri in Grund. Die
Bonstetten ließend die ausgebrennten mauren lær ston und bauwtend ein schoen hauß von holtzwerck darnebend
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origins is widely unknown, as well as the castle was never used as a seat of noble family there are just handful sealed documents referring to the castle's history.
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838:"C II 16, Nr. 215 Graf Donat von Toggenburg, Herr zu Brettengow und Tavas, hat den Kirchensatz von Elsow dem Abt und Konvent des Prämonstr ... (1398.04.23)"
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867:"C II 12, Nr. 277 Graf Fridrich von Toggenburg, Herr zu Brettengow und Tafas, schenkt zum eigenen Seelenheil und dem seiner Vorfahren dem ... (1407.01.21)"
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ancient times it assumably served as the accommodation building of the tower, as seen on some historical illustrations, later assumably as a farmhouse.
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896:"Z 2.1361 HAUSWIRTSCHAFTLICHE SCHULE AUF SCHLOSS USTER, HEUSSER-STAUB STIFTUNG, Uster Haushaltsunterricht für Töchter (1918-1935)"
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It is uncertain who built the tower of Uster around 1200 AD, or maybe much earlier, but it's secured that the
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concluded a pact with Zürich, and became a citizen of the city of Zürich respectively claimed the so-called
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The conspicuous tower of the castle was erected on a roughly 30 m (98 ft) high longish
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968:. Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz. 2015-02-18. Archived from
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by 1975. Since 1 September 1995 the castle houses the private boarding school
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before it was demolished in 1823, oil by unknown painter, Stadtarchiv Uster
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Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance
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Confederacy marauders; the bodies of the defenders were buried at the
577:(Uster) were mentioned as witnesses in at least two documents of the
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The castle is administered by the city of Uster. To take care of the
285:. On its southwestern slope a vineyard is situated, overlooking the
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stained glass windows, the right section is dedicated to Berta and
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Cultural property of regional significance in the canton of Zürich
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The tower of the castle is home to a colony of regularly breeding
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his own and the salvation of his ancestors who were buried at the
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since about 1099 AD, as well as lands in the present locality of
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Eigentliche
Vorstellung der Adelichen Schlösser im Zürich Gebieth
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mountain chain, as well as guided tours of the weapon chamber (
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Turm oben abwerffen und ein schoen geheüß … drauf setzen
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view from the tower to the castle's auxiliary buildings
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465:site of the remains of the wall and the barn
769:"Mittelalterliche Bauten in Uster vor 1300"
382:the building complex of the boarding school
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229:. Since 1995 it houses a boarding school.
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241:distant view as from towards Oberuster
665:was rebuilt in a steakhouse in 2009.
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1020:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
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555:, in a document; in 1268 certified
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603:where he also expects to be buried
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589:as benefice for the altar at the
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60:Location within Canton of Zürich
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1337:Schools in the canton of Zürich
1317:Castles in the canton of Zürich
900:Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich
871:Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich
842:Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich
627:Herman von der Hochenlandenberg
313:the stepgabled top of the tower
922:(in German). schloss-schule.ch
690:The building is listed in the
591:grave of the Toggenburg family
535:had the right of patronate of
16:Building in Uster, Switzerland
1:
698:object of regional importance
798:(in German). swisscastles.ch
661:, and the former restaurant
63:Show map of Canton of Zürich
742:(in German). dickemauern.de
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366:initiated after the fire (
88:Uster Castle (Switzerland)
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632:After the Appenzell wars
581:: On 23 April 1398 Count
513:) and the Knights' Hall (
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963:"B-Objekte KGS-Inventar"
570:Elisabeth von Rapperswil
995: Bruno Schmid:
942:"Fleigende Mitbewohner"
595:Fridrich von Toggenburg
499:lake shore towards the
91:Show map of Switzerland
1291:Castles of Switzerland
1058:Castles and fortresses
1023:, 14 January 2014.
920:"Schloss Schule Uster"
796:"Zürich Schloss Uster"
651:Heusser-Staub-Stiftung
585:donated the church of
565:Hermann von Bonstetten
545:Hermann von Bonstetten
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169:47.345493°N 8.717891°E
1327:Towers in Switzerland
819:(in German). uster.ch
774:(in German). uster.ch
716:Uster Reformed Church
672:on the castle's tower
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619:Johans von Bonstetten
615:Herman von Landenberg
487:tower's "inhabitants"
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340:Uster castle and the
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659:Schloss Schule Uster
629:on 21 January 1407.
583:Donat von Toggenburg
579:Counts of Toggenburg
273:, a locality of the
185:Construction started
1322:House of Rapperswil
1168:Irgenhausen Castrum
711:Jakob Heusser-Staub
647:Jakob Heusser-Staub
634:Hans von Bonstetten
607:Wangen in der March
561:Johann von Wetzikon
533:House of Rapperswil
527:House of Rapperswil
433:Jakob Heusser-Staub
364:Batt von Bonstetten
215:House of Rapperswil
174:47.345493; 8.717891
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106:Architectural style
101:General information
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1098:Breitenlandenberg
686:Cultural heritage
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977:. Retrieved
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740:"Burg Uster"
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582:
574:
568:passed from
564:
560:
556:
552:
548:
544:
540:
537:Uster church
530:
514:
511:Waffenkammer
510:
502:Pfannenstiel
500:
494:
491:Glatt Valley
484:
475:
456:
418:Waffenkammer
417:
394:
367:
363:
359:
347:
329:
325:
316:
305:Architecture
294:Pfannenstiel
292:
291:towards the
286:
275:municipality
270:
267:Uster church
262:
258:
252:
219:municipality
206:
202:
199:Swiss German
195:Uster Castle
194:
193:
126:Town or city
1213:Schauenberg
1143:Greifenberg
1138:Glanzenberg
1133:Friesenberg
1123:Freienstein
944:(in German)
655:Schlossberg
601:Rüti church
597:donated to
211:hill castle
172: /
147:Coordinates
140:Switzerland
110:hill castle
1311:Categories
1268:Wülflingen
1193:Liebenberg
1183:Alt-Lägern
1148:Greifensee
1108:Dübelstein
979:2015-09-18
948:2015-09-20
926:2015-08-29
905:2015-08-29
881:2015-08-14
852:2015-08-14
823:2015-08-29
802:2015-08-29
778:2015-09-21
746:2015-08-29
722:References
611:Rüti Abbey
559:, wife of
515:Rittersaal
496:Greifensee
481:Facilities
395:Rittersaal
288:Greifensee
271:Kirchuster
263:Kirchuster
207:Burg Uster
157:47°20′44″N
1233:Uetliburg
1153:Grüningen
1128:Friedberg
638:Burgrecht
549:von Uster
547:, called
541:Oberuster
259:Oberuster
233:Geography
160:8°43′04″E
1198:Mörsburg
705:See also
679:Jackdaws
493:and the
1228:Tössegg
1223:Sünikon
1103:Bubikon
1088:Bernegg
1078:Baldern
1060:of the
1014:Italian
696:Class B
609:to the
521:History
281:in the
255:moraine
225:in the
209:) is a
136:Country
1188:Laufen
1173:Kyburg
1118:Flaach
1008:French
1002:German
188:~ 1200
1342:Uster
1238:Uster
973:(PDF)
966:(PDF)
772:(PDF)
694:as a
623:Ustra
621:from
587:Elsow
575:Ustra
573:from
553:Ustra
506:Forch
298:Forch
279:Uster
223:Uster
130:Uster
1273:Wulp
1248:Wart
1158:Hegi
1113:Elgg
1011:and
999:in
663:Burg
625:and
355:keep
353:, a
261:and
277:of
269:in
221:of
1313::
1073:Au
1005:,
787:^
755:^
729:^
617:,
201::
1050:e
1043:t
1036:v
982:.
951:.
929:.
908:.
884:.
855:.
826:.
805:.
781:.
749:.
700:.
504:–
296:–
197:(
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