The ruins of Alt Wülflingen tower high above the Totentäli near Winterthur. The recently restored keep towers 18 metres above the hill and offers a delightful view over Winterthur, the Töss and as far as the Alps.
Wülflingen was already known in the first millennium through an Alemannic county. When the keep was built is not clear, however. What is certain is that the castle of Alt Wülflingen must have existed as early as the 11th century. Before that, a little-developed refuge castle is said to have stood on the hill. Later owners included the Counts of Habsburg and the Counts of Kyburg, who also built the keep that still exists today. The remaining parts of the castle are now only vaguely recognizable or have disappeared completely.
The observation tower was reopened just a few days ago. There are 76 steps leading to the top of the tower, where you can enjoy a fantastic view.
Legend
Right at the beginning of the forest path that leads through the nearby Totentäli, an information board prepares walkers for the forest path that is rich in myths. Three suggestions are offered that could have given Totentäli its name. Firstly, the citizens of Neuburg are said to have buried their dead there after a dispute with the Wülflingen pastor; the pastor increased the fee for using the cemetery to 20 guilders, which was far too expensive for the people of Neuburg.
Secondly, according to a report in the “Landbote” on April 7, 1923, a body with several stab wounds was found at one of the ponds.
However, the third hypothesis is much more likely: the name is said to be based on geological conditions and to be derived from "dead river" or "dead water". After the end of the last ice age around 13,000 years ago, meltwater from glaciers flowed through the Totentäli.
Location and directions
The castle can be reached on foot from the Wespi mill near the Töss bridge from Winterthur towards Brütten. A steep hiking trail leads up a few steps to the castle. The hiking trail crosses a beautiful nature reserve with several ponds for several kilometers and invites you to continue walking or to linger. The name of the Totentäli is derived from "dead river", "dead water", "lying water" because a dry valley remained after the retreat of the Rhine glacier. Perhaps the name also comes from the grave silence that characterizes this natural oasis between Ebnet and Chomberg. The ponds, which were renovated in the 1970s, are still home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.
