“A Hohenzollern legacy” whispers the wind through the ancient trees. Before you stands Schloss Umkirch a testament to centuries of history. This magnificent structure wasn’t always as it is today. In the 14th century a humble water castle belonged to the Lords Geben. Various noble families like the Lords of Tübingen also called this place home. Their presence is etched into the very stones of this building. The Roggenbach and Beroldingen families expanded the property before it passed to the Kageneck majorat in 1740.
The old castle was demolished in 1743. A new central section arose in its place. Two side wings followed between 1788 and 1789. This marked a significant shift in the castle’s architecture. Schloss Umkirch transformed from a medieval stronghold to something new. In 1785 Flora von Kageneck inherited the estate. She was no ordinary heiress. Flora was the daughter of Friedrich von Kageneck and Maria Theresia von Salm-Reifferscheidt. She was also the cousin of the Austrian statesman Metternich. In 1798 she married Count Eugen von Wrbna.
Under Flora’s stewardship Schloss Umkirch flourished. Between 1816 and 1817 the castle underwent a major expansion. Its Italian country house style became apparent. A striking belvedere was added to the roofline. The Kageneck-Wrbna coat of arms still adorns the gable. A clear symbol of this significant era. In 1827 Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden purchased Schloss Umkirch. It became her summer residence for July and August. A summer retreat fit for royalty. Her will dictated that her daughter Princess Josephine of Baden would inherit the estate. Josephine married Karl Anton of Hohenzollern. She made Umkirch an inalienable family asset. In 1900 it passed to her son King Carol of Romania.
After Carol’s death in 1914 the First World War briefly stalled its inheritance. The castle then went to Prince Friedrich Victor of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in 1916. He also used it as a summer home. Remarkably Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern and Prince Leopold of Bavaria were born there in 1943. From September 1944 to April 1945 the princely family faced forced eviction and internment at Schloss Wilflingen due to the Second World War.
After the war Southern Baden became part of the French occupation zone. General Pierre Péne resided in Schloss Umkirch. He served as governor for Baden from 1946 to 1952. Friedrich Wilhelm partially lived in his sister’s country house nearby. After Friedrich Victor’s death in 1965 his son Friedrich Wilhelm inherited the estate. Today Schloss Umkirch remains in the possession of the Swabian Hohenzollerns. Karl Friedrich von Hohenzollern is the current owner. The eleven-hectare Hohenzollern castle park adds to the estate’s beauty. A nearby park resulted from a donation by Friedrich von Hohenzollern to Princess Auguste Viktoria of Hohenzollern. She was the wife of the last King of Portugal Manuel II. She built the neo-baroque Fulwell Park nearby named after her English exile residence.
Stand here and imagine the lives lived within these walls. The echoes of history whisper through the leaves. Schloss Umkirch stands tall a symbol of resilience and rich heritage.