Kindhausen ruin, Medieval castle ruin in Bergdietikon, Switzerland

Kindhausen ruin is the remnant of a medieval hilltop castle on the Hasenberg above Bergdietikon. The site is split between two hilltops: on the higher southern knoll, a round tower with an inner diameter of 4.1 m and walls 1.2 m thick stood beside a square palas, its high entrance probably on the first floor and linked to the palas by a wooden gallery. On the northern knoll stood an economy building. Excavated and conserved wall remains are visible.

The Lords of Schönenwerd built this castle in the late 12th century as a strategic point in the region. A medieval fire damaged the complex severely, after which it gradually fell into decay and was abandoned.

The castle's name is not documented in any written source, so its origin remains unexplained. What visitors can still see are the excavated and conserved wall remains uncovered in 1936 by Reinhold Bosch, Albert Matter and Karl Heid, when hardly any traces were visible above ground.

The ruin sits at about 721 meters elevation on the Hasenberg ridge and offers views over the Limmat Valley. The site is accessible on foot, with views reaching toward the city of Zurich.

The round shape of the main tower was unusual for this area, where most castles had square towers. Excavations in 1936 found pottery fragments and an arrow-shaped spearhead, which suggest this distinctive choice.