The restored 16th century moated castle at Seedorf, Switzerland, is more of a fortified manor house and is also know as A Pro Castle. Built by the brothers A Pro the castle now hosts a restaurant and mineral museum.
Visiting Seedorf Castle
It is easy to visit the outside of Seedorf Castle, certainly by car. There is a small car park next to the main road and the castle is a couple of minutes walk. You can walk around most of the castle although there is a marsh on one side but it is closed on Wednesdays, when we visited. The local tourist site here gives full information on opening hours and the best ways to experience the castle.
My Experience
It was a wet and miserable day when we visited the castle and we were hoping to go further into the Alps to see some snow. After parking I walked along the path to the castle and then around the field to get some different views. The area must look awesome in sunlight, especially if you can view a reflection in the moat but I didn’t linger too long outside and we continued on to Lucerne.
Seedorf Castle Photo Gallery
History
The moated Castle A Pro in Seedorf was constructed between 1555 and 1558 by brothers Jakob I and Peter A Pro as a symbol and a show of their wealth. The building, surrounded by water and a crenelated wall, is a unique example of a stately home in a style situated between late Gothic and the Renaissance.
In 1578, the Uri knight Peter A Pro created a foundation for poor children. In order that this charitable institution had enough financial resources sustainably at its disposal and so that it could achieve its mission, he bequeathed on his death a large part of his lands: extensive grazing lands, scattered plots, forests and mountain pastures, but also several buildings, one of which was the stately Castle A Pro.
In the 19th century, however, this building became a heavy financial burden. Projects to turn the moated castle into a children’s home or an agricultural school came to nothing, and the building was in danger of becoming dilapidated. In 1959, the Canton of Uri acquired it for the purposes of formal gatherings and exhibitions. From 1960 to 1980, the exterior and interior of the castle were repaired.
References
The local tourist site here has plenty of information about the castle, restaurant and access times. The history above is copied from this site.