Time stood still. The imposing stone walls of Schopflen loomed before us. This wasn’t just any ruin. This was Schopflen a medieval water castle. Once a mighty stronghold guarding the Reichenau Island it now stood silent. Its history whispered from every weathered stone.
Schopflen’s strategic location on the eastern edge of Reichenau Island is key. It protected the shallows between the island and the mainland. This was vital for the Abbey of Reichenau. Imagine the monks relying on this very castle for protection. The seven-meter-wide moat once isolated Schopflen. It was only accessible across a narrow shallow area. This made it virtually impregnable.
Construction began around the 11th century. Abbot Konrad von Zimmern commissioned the building. The castle became the seat of the Reichenau abbots from 1260 to 1294. Imagine the power and influence emanating from within those walls. But its existence wasn’t peaceful. In 1366 during the “Konstanz Fisher War” Schopflen faced its end.
The conflict started with a brutal act. A Constance fisherman had his eyes gouged out for poaching. This sparked outrage. Constance retaliated with a full-scale attack. The castle fell. Schopflen’s destruction marked the beginning of a violent feud. The feud involved the powerful von Brandis family. The von Brandis family controlled the Bishop of Constance. They even controlled the Abbot of Reichenau.
Today only the impressive walls remain. They stand up to ten meters high. The walls are a testament to the castle’s former glory. The walls are up to 2.5 meters thick. Inside the NABU Naturschutzbund has created a birdwatching platform. This modern addition offers a contrast to the ancient stones. From this platform you can observe the birds of the Wollmatinger Ried. This wetland area lies between Reichenau Island and Constance. Schopflen. A ruin that tells a story. A story of power conflict and resilience. A story that continues to resonate through time.