The Museum in the New Castle Tettnang is a must if you are travelling to southern Germany, to the Lake Constance area, and want to discover more than just what nature has to offer. Tettnang is a town in the hinterland of Lake Constance, from where you can enjoy stunning views on the Lake and even to Switzerland and the mountains. The city with nearly 19 000 inhabitants is world-famous since decades for the cultivation of hops, that refine beers around the world with aromatic tastes. Apart from agriculture, Tettnang is also known for its technology industry, but also for an extensive and impressive history. One of those remarkable attractions is the “New Castle”, the former residence of the Counts of Montfort. Unfortunately, the castle burned down to its reinforced ground walls in 1753, just about 40 years after Count Anton III von Montfort ordered the initial construction. A short time later, they started to rebuild it the way it still looks nowadays. The reconstruction and decoration of the interior were made by one of the most famous artists of that time from the Lake Constance area; Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer as well as Joseph Johann Kauffmann and his daughter Angelika Kauffmann.
The Residential Castle of the Counts of Montfort is located on a hill near the historic city centre of Tettnang. As the City wasn’t destroyed during the second world war, you are still able to wander along the historic alleyways and pas by the old historic houses. The City Center of Tettnang with numerous individually owned shops, restaurants and cafés is located just a bare minute from the New Castle by foot, so everything is effortless to reach. In total there are even three castles in Tettnang, but more on all of them another time. It’s possible to visit the New Castle in Tettnang itself (almost) every day of the year, as there is a local court located inside as well as many events and festivities going on regularly. Those circumstances might interfere with the opening of the museum, but this doesn’t happen too often. The Museum in the New Castle Tettnang is open daily from Thursday to Tuesday, each from 11 am to 5 pm, with guided tours every full hour. I’ve visited the Museum on a special themed tour, with the Countess and her maid as guides. If you have the possibility and understand german, join this tour, it’s so hilarious! If you are a smaller or bigger group, you can even book individual assignments, or if you have kids, they can celebrate their birthday in the historic rooms, like princesses and princes. Following a few Pictures of the Museum inside the former residential Castle of the Counts of Montfort in Tettnang.
New Castle Tettnang
Address: Montfortplatz 1, 88069 Tettnang, Germany
Opening times: every year from March till October 31st, each Thursday to Tuesday from 11 am to 5 pm, hourly guided tours (closed on Wednesdays).
Highlight: in the winter season there is an exhibition of Christmas cribs in the New Castle Tettnang and a charming Christmas Market around the Castle for three weekends
Pictures were taken during a guided tour at the New Castle Tettnang, a Residential Castle of the Counts of Montfort
