What if these stones could talk? Schloss Kirchhofen stands before us a silent witness to centuries of history. This place is more than just old stones. It is a tapestry woven with tales of noble families. It is a story of war and renewal.
Schloss Kirchhofen began as a defensive structure. It was first mentioned in 1422. This nearly square construction was a moated castle. Today three of the original four corner towers remain. You can still see traces of the moats on the west and north sides.
Around 1500, the fortress was converted into a castle. Lazarus von Schwendi expanded it after 1572. He was an imperial field commander. He also became the most famous resident of Schloss Kirchhofen.
In 1633, tragedy struck. Swedish troops devastated Schloss Kirchhofen during the Thirty Years’ War. They also massacred a large part of Kirchhofen’s male population. The castle was heavily damaged but not destroyed.
The community rebuilt Schloss Kirchhofen. In 1740 and 1741, a new roof and vaulted cellar were added. The castle took on new roles over time. In 1847 and 1848, it was converted into a school. It expanded in 1910 and again in 1963/64 with a flat extension.
Ownership of Schloss Kirchhofen changed hands many times. The Lords of Blumeneck owned it until 1454. Then came Jakob von Staufen. Claudius von Böcklinsau followed him until 1536. Christoffel von Hattstatt then purchased it. From 1543 to 1545, the city of Freiburg owned Schloss Kirchhofen. They sold it to Franz Brenner von Gutenroth for 36,000 Gulden. In 1572/77 Lazarus von Schwendi acquired it.
The Knights Hospitaller acquired it in 1599. They ceded it to Further Austria in 1607. Hannibal von Schauenburg received it as a pledge in 1628. In 1738, St. Blasien Monastery purchased it. As part of secularization, it passed to the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1806. Finally in 1840, the municipalities of Kirchhofen and Ehrenkirchen purchased Schloss Kirchhofen.
Today Schloss Kirchhofen is owned by the municipality. It is being considered as a community meeting place. A support association was founded in 2022 to help maintain the castle. It hopes to achieve this through events and membership fees.
Look around. Schloss Kirchhofen has witnessed centuries of transformation. From a defensive structure to a noble residence. Then from a school to a community center. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Kirchhofen. It also honors the people who shaped its history.