While in Switzerland, we wanted to visit the Habsburg Castle, the original seat of the House of Habsburg, which became the imperial and royal dynasty of Austria and Hungary. But first we came past Muri Abbey, once a Benedictine monastery, founded in 1027 by Radbot, Count of Habsburg.
Murry Abbey had been a favoured burial place of the House of Habsburg. Even the hearts of the last reigning Imperial couple, Karl I, Emperor of Austria (1887–1922) and his wife Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma (1892–1989) are in the family crypt in the Loreto Chapel, as are the bodies of their sons Rudolf and Felix.
We continued our way in the direction of Basel, to a tiny village called Habsburg.
The Habsburg Castle was built around 1020 by Count Radbot. The name of “Habsburg” was not added to the noble title until Radbot’s grandson, Otto II. He added “von Habsburg” to his title, thus beginning the House of Habsburg.
Habsburg Castle’s importance diminished after Radbot’s seventh generation descendant Rudolph moved the family’s power base to Austria in 1276. Habsburg Castle remained property of the House of Habsburg until 1415, when Duke Frederick IV of Austria lost the canton of Aargau to the Swiss Confederacy.
Today the “large” and “small” towers of the original castle are preserved, attached to a residential building of the 13th century, while large parts of the complex lie in ruins. A nice looking restaurant is housed in the castle, but was closed when we visited.
We are now leaving Switzerland and will continue through France until we reach our ferry at Cherbourg.