Ruine Schenkenberg

Thalheim, Aargau, Switzerland, Switzerland

---

Ruine Schenkenberg is a prominent 13th-century hilltop castle ruin above Thalheim in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, built by the Habsburgs around 1243 to secure their territories near Brugg.

First mentioned in records that year, it changed hands after the Habsburgs' financial woes post-Sempach in 1386, passing through families like Fridingen, Aarburg, and Baldegg before Bern seized it in 1460 amid conflicts, using it for 260 years as the administrative seat of their Schenkenberg bailiwick.

Severely neglected by the early 18th century due to poor maintenance, it collapsed further after a 1917 storm, leading to its preservation in 1918 by the Aargau Heritage Association with reinforcements; today, the site features a main tower, shield wall, round tower, and panoramic Jura views accessible by foot from Thalheim.