Mauensee Château, Water castle in Mauensee, Switzerland

Mauensee Château sits on a small island in Lake Mauensee, connected to the mainland by a bridge at 504 meters elevation. The three-story structure forms a distinctive landmark in the landscape.

Mauensee Château was first recorded in 1184 in the register of Engelberg Monastery. In 1275 the castle and the lordship of Mauensee were held in equal halves by the Counts of Habsburg and the Barons of Grünenberg. The Confederates destroyed the fortress after the Sempach War of 1388, and in 1455 the lake and island passed to Lucerne. The present castle was built in 1605 by Schultheiss Michael Schnyder.

The castle's name comes from the lake and the hamlet of Mauensee in the canton of Lucerne. The present building was erected in 1605 for Schultheiss Michael Schnyder, and the estate passed through the hands of Lucerne patrician families such as the Pfyffer von Altishofen and the Cloos. Since 1998 it has belonged to the Sigg industrial family and is a private residence.

The château remains private property of the Sigg family since 1998 and cannot be visited inside, but hiking paths around the lake offer views of it. Visitors should explore the trails to fully understand the island's setting.

The chapel, corner towers and surrounding wall were demolished in 1811 by the Eggstein family of Zofingen, who had just acquired the estate. The present building therefore shows only part of its former layout. The castle and island have belonged to the industrialist Sigg family since 1998, who bought and renovated it.