Perched high above the Wertach valley stands Schloss Wellenburg. Today, we explore its history. This castle, also known as Fuggerschloss Wellenburg, boasts centuries of stories. Imagine knights, nobles, and master builders shaping its destiny.
Schloss Wellenburg first appeared in records in the 12th century. Over time, it saw many owners. The castle was divided, destroyed, and rebuilt. In 1463, it was first called a “Schloss”. Back then, the episcopal treasurers of Wellenburg likely owned it.
In 1507, Schloss Wellenburg passed through several Augsburg families. These included the Portners, Herwarths, Langenmantels, and Onsorgs. Eventually, it came to Matthäus Lang, a son of an Augsburg patrician. He served as the provost of the Augsburg Cathedral. Emperor Maximilian I granted him the title Edler von Wellenburg. Later, Pope Julius II made him a cardinal as Archbishop of Salzburg. Lang transformed the castle into a pleasure palace by 1513. He even made it available to the Emperor.
In 1530, Schloss Wellenburg hosted festivals and tournaments for Charles V. Around 1536, an early woodcut depicted the castle. It showed a rectangular building with a gabled roof. Four corner towers and a tall stair tower were visible. The base of that stair tower still stands today.
Anton Fugger was offered the Schloss Wellenburg in 1536. However, his son Jakob III Fugger finally bought it in 1595. He paid 70,000 Gulden. Soon after, Jakob hired Augsburg’s city architect Elias Holl to build a new gatehouse. Further renovations stopped after Jakob’s death. In the 1730s, Joseph Maria Fugger planned a complete rebuild. Ultimately, he only carried out renovations.
Between 1857 and 1858, Prince Leopold Fugger of Babenhausen remodeled the main wing. He chose the Neo-Gothic style. The east wing was rebuilt and the stair tower heightened. The pointed helmet added to the stair tower was removed in the early 20th century. The architect behind the 1857-1858 remodel remains a mystery. Georg von Stengel or Georg Gollwitzer could have been responsible.
Valerian Brenner, a master builder from the Bregenzerwald, expanded the Schlosskapelle St. Georg. It is on the ground floor of the main wing. He also enlarged the stables. Hans Georg Mozart, great-uncle of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, contributed to later renovations.
The descendants of Jakob Fugger still own Schloss Wellenburg. Until 1764, the Fugger-Wellenburg line owned it. Since then, it belongs to the Fugger-Babenhausen line.
The Schlosskapelle St. Georg is historically significant. It was built around 1513 like the main wing. Inside, you’ll find medieval sculptures. A life-size figure of St. George from the late 15th century stands out. A crucifix from the first half of the 14th century is another highlight. The Neo-Gothic altar mensa features a wood relief from about 1520 depicting Christ carrying the Cross. Ernst Buchner dated an altar wing pair with Saint Sebastian to between 1460 and 1470. He assigned it to the school of the ‘Augsburg Master of the Ulrich Legend.’
An approximately two-kilometer-long avenue leads to Schloss Wellenburg from Göggingen. About 350 linden trees line this avenue. It was planted in 1840.
Unfortunately, Schloss Wellenburg is not open to the public. Yet its rich history and architectural beauty endure. Schloss Wellenburg remains a significant landmark in Augsburg. It reminds us of the powerful Fugger family. Their legacy continues to shape this region.