Switzerland's Schwarzenbach Castle was built by a king in 1273 the year St. Thomas Aquinas published his Summa Theologica and St. Valentine's Day was first proclaimed by the Roman Emperor Aureliano. It has been owned by royalty, nobility, and captains of industry. Looking exactly as it did in the Middle Ages, Schwarzenbach Castle has been completely modernized for 21st century living. The castle reigns over 16 acres of woods and meadowland, a snug domain for a privilege family or a company's international headquarters.
In the northern foothills of the Swiss Alps, near the town of Wil and 30 minutes away from Zurich, lies the ancient hamlet of Schwarzenbach and its 13th- century castle. Built by Rudolf I of Habsburg, last ruler of the Holy Roman Empire and later king of Austria, the castle has been fully renewed. The original 700-year-old sandstone wall (above), still guards the brick courtyard with it's gardens and venerable old trees, while modern entrance gates, below, welcome you home.
A modern addition is the stable house, below, built in 1990 at the cost of $2 million. Its courtyard level houses stables that treat horses like royalty, plus an extraordinary six car garage, pristine, tiled to the ceiling, and often opened for catered indoor-outdoor buffets since adjoining it is a full kitchen with top-of-the-line appliance, plus guest bathrooms. On the second floor, a pair of two-bedroom, two-bath apartments have beautifully appointed kitchens, balconies and fireplaces. Beneath the garage is the control room for the castle's entire heating system, walk in freezers and a nuclear bomb shelter where 20 could live comfortably. Also beneath the garage is a modern spa. Accessible from both buildings and served by stairs and elevator, the spa includes a steam room, sauna, whirlpool, exercise area, four bathrooms, a 6-by-10 foot plunge pool, and a private terrace overlooking the meadow.
The pond is fed by the river, surrounded by natural landscaping, and full of trout. Ducks could live in the small shelter by the castle wall.
In addition to the castle buildings described, new outbuildings have been added, including a $300,000 three-car garage plus stabling for additional horses with feed storage above. The castle is supplied with water by a circulating cistern that pumps water from its own wells.
Few could ask for a better location than Schawarzenbach Castle. The town of Wil, five minutes away by car, offers modern supermarkets, cafes, shops, and medical facilities, plus a railway station from which you can depart for virtually anywhere in Switzerland and beyond.
The town of ST. Gallen, less than 30 minutes to the east, is known internationally for its highly rated private schools, and Zurich, with all its cultural excitement, excellent restaurant, international airport, and the most exclusive shops in all of Europe, is just a half-hour's drive to the west.
For skiers, Schawarzenbach Castle is 50 minutes away from a charming local ski resort- and a gorgeous two-hour drive from st. Moritz, Half an hour to the northeast is the Bodensee, the lake between Switzerland and Germany, Where you can get a ferry to Friedrichshafen and the casinos in Germany. Austria is just 35 minutes to the south, and if you have business in Milan, you can drive there in 3-1/2 hours.
Switzerland is not a member of European Common Market, and uses its own currency, the Swiss Franc, which is extremely stable.
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