The remains of the former Tegerfelden hilltop castle lie on a rocky outcrop of the Ruckfeld in the municipality of Tegerfelden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Although the castle is now in ruins, a few remnants can still be seen.
Story
Tegerfelden Castle was built towards the end of the 11th century by the Barons of Tegerfelden. After a fire at the end of the 12th century, it was rebuilt from stone and later expanded to include a timber-framed house with a basement. The castle was already described as a ruin in 1269 and the noble family of the Barons of Tegerfelden died out in 1254. One of the conspirators in the murder of Albrecht I was Konrad von Tegerfeld.
The Key Maiden
In the Tegerfelden ruins, there is a story about the key maiden, who, according to various legends, is up to mischief. Four men once asked for her hand in marriage and were given a dangerous task by her: to ride around the castle three times. Three of the men died in the process, and the fourth was declared the winner. But the maiden's mother was against the marriage because the chosen man was not of noble birth. In her anger, she pushed him into the abyss and the desperate key maiden threw herself down as well. Since then, she is said to have kidnapped young men and driven them mad while she is still looking for a husband.
Access
The castle is best reached on foot from Tegerfelden. There are a few parking spaces after the castle in the direction of Baden. From there it is not far on foot.
