Ortsmuseum im Schloss Dottenwil

About the museum

Schloss Dottenwil stands on a hill above Wittenbach and was built as a small castle in 1543; it was expanded in the late 16th century. In the 19th century, ownership changed several times. In 1886 the municipality of Wittenbach bought the estate and set up a home for the poor and the elderly there, which operated until the end of 1997.

Afterwards, the Interessengemeinschaft Schloss Dottenwil (Schloss Dottenwil interest group) and the Museumsgesellschaft Wittenbach (Wittenbach Museum Society) took over the house and, with a great deal of volunteer work, developed it into a venue for culture and encounters. Since 1998 the local history museum has been housed here; its collection, assembled by the Wittenbach Museum Society, dates back to the 1960s. Besides the museum, the castle today includes a restaurant with a garden, a cellar gallery, a vineyard and events related to the castle; the operation is run by volunteers.

The exhibitions are devoted to customs and to local and regional history. In the castle you can see simple living in the 18th and 19th centuries, upper-class living in Wittenbach between 1880 and 1920, a Biedermeier room with old musical instruments, and an old school and girls’ needlework room. In the coach house, the museum shows workshops of former crafts, including blacksmith, carpenter, printer, potter, saddler, tailor, wheelwright and joiner, plus old scales and religious folk art. Particularly important is the “Heiliges Grab” (Holy Sepulchre) from the parish church of St. Ulrich, which was still in use until 1952. In the shed behind the castle, the path from fruit tree to Most (apple or pear cider) can be traced.

Highlights

• Castle from 1543 with views to Lake Constance and the Säntis
• “Heiliges Grab” from the parish church of St. Ulrich
• Upper-class and simple living, Biedermeier room with old instruments
• Old school and girls’ needlework room
• Workshops of former crafts in the coach house
• Castle restaurant with garden and wine from the estate’s own vineyard

Permanent exhibitions

• Ortsmuseum Wittenbach im Schloss – Simple and upper-class living, a Biedermeier room with old musical instruments, an old school and girls’ needlework room, plus history of Wittenbach and the region.
• Remise: Altes Handwerk und Volkskunst – Workshops of blacksmith, carpenter, printer, potter, saddler, tailor, wheelwright and joiner, old scales and religious folk art, including the “Heiliges Grab” from the parish church of St. Ulrich.
• Vom Baum zum Most – In the shed behind the castle, the path of Most is shown, from the fruit tree and blossom through the work of the bees to pressing the fruit juice.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Museumsgesellschaft Wittenbach

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

According to museums.ch, admission is free; the castle’s website gives no information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

According to museums.ch, the castle lies north of Wittenbach station, near the hamlet of Dottenwil.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Castle restaurant with castle garden and terrace, run by volunteers (Saturday 14:00–20:00, Sunday 10:00–18:00); wine from the house’s own vineyard.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 50 guests.

Castle hall (seating up to 50), parlor rooms, upper hall (standing reception for 50 people), garden and castle chapel; the castle is an official civil wedding venue.

Plan your visit