Kyburg Castle: a day trip from Zurich
Kyburg Castle stands about 3 km south-east of Winterthur, above the river Töss. First mentioned in 1027, it is one of the largest surviving medieval castle complexes in Switzerland and a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
- Address
- Schloss 1, 8314 Kyburg
- From Zürich HB
- S3 to Effretikon, then bus 655 – about 40 minutes
- First mentioned
- 1027
- Season and hours
- See official website
What to see
A keep, a palas, residential and service buildings and a chapel are linked by a ring wall around a large courtyard. The castle chapel has mural paintings from the 15th century. The ring-wall path behind the castle reopened in 2017 and shows the stately bailiffs’ residence to the south and the fortified knights’ castle to the north. Every summer the Kyburgiade, an international chamber music festival, takes place in the inner courtyard.
A short history
- The castle is first mentioned in 1027. Its original name, "Chuigeburg" (cow castle), suggests a refuge castle.
- The Counts of Kyburg were the most important noble family on the Swiss Plateau, alongside the Habsburgs and the Savoys. When the last Kyburg count died in 1264, Rudolf von Habsburg took over the inheritance.
- The imperial regalia of the Holy Roman Empire are said to have been kept at Kyburg.
- On 1 June 1424 the city of Zurich bought the County of Kyburg from the Habsburgs, doubling the city-state’s territory at a stroke. Until 1798 noble Zurich citizens served as bailiffs here for six years at a time.
- In 1865 Matthäus Pfau opened the castle as a castle and art museum – the first castle museum in Switzerland. The Canton of Zurich bought the castle in 1917.
Tips for your visit
- The museum is seasonal – the official site lists 1 April to 31 October. Check the opening hours before you go.
- Audio guides in German, English, French and Italian; English info sheets in almost every room.
- Walk the ring-wall path for panoramic views and visit the baroque castle garden.
- For children: a hands-on castle building site on the 3rd floor of the counts’ hall.
- Many stairs: wheelchair users can reach the chapel, the ground-floor rooms, the café and the ticket office.
- Dogs on a leash are allowed in the courtyard and gardens, but not in the museum rooms.
Getting there from Zürich HB
- S3 to Effretikon, then bus 655 to "Kyburg, Dorf" (20 minutes) and a 3-minute walk. A timetable check for a weekday in October 2026 gave 39 minutes from Zürich HB with one change.
- On foot from Sennhof-Kyburg station (S11, S26): less than one hour, with a 150 m climb on a steep path with 440 steps.
- From Winterthur via the Eschenberg hill: about 1 h 45 min on foot.
- By car: signposted from Effretikon, Illnau, Sennhof and Weisslingen; parking at the village entrance.