Legacy of a billionaire – Difficult search for a new use for Schloss am Hallwilersee – News


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Barely used for decades, Brestenberg Castle on Lake Hallwil is to be given a new future – but which one?

It is truly no ordinary survey in which the population of Seengen in Aargau and beyond has been able to take part in recent months. The people in the vicinity of Brestenberg Castle on Lake Hallwil had the rare opportunity to submit their ideas for the future of the pretty little castle with a lake front and huge underground halls.

The proposals have now been presented to the public. It became clear that the desired economic operation of the castle is desired, but is unlikely to be possible.

Legend:

Bettina Stefanini, daughter of real estate king Bruno Stefanini and President of the Foundation for Art, Culture and History, informs the population in Seengen about plans for the future of Brestenberg Castle.

SRF/Stefan Ulrich

The Foundation for Art, Culture and History (SKKG) called for a survey on the future use of the palace. This owns part of the estate of the Winterthur real estate entrepreneur Bruno Stefanini, who bought the castle in the 1980s.

They are looking for bold and innovative plans for the castle, said Bettina Stefanini, the president of the foundation, at an information event on Wednesday evening. “As a foundation, we have the opportunity to do things that others cannot do,” emphasized Stefanini in her speech to the population.

Brestenberg: From the memorial of failure to the big hit


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The history of the palace complex is long and complex. According to the Foundation for Art, Culture and History, the central main building dates from 1625, which can still be seen in the building. For more than 100 years, the palace complex served as a spa with an international reputation and later as a palace hotel. Operations ceased in the 1980s, and the castle was already in a pitiful state at the time, which has largely remained the same to this day. It has hardly been used for around 40 years, many parts of the building are in bad condition, so bad that the current information event had to take place in tents in front of the castle.

Huge subterranean halls

When Winterthur real estate king Bruno Stefanini bought Brestenberg Castle, he had big plans for it. He wanted to create a huge underground museum and store for his various cultural assets here. Various conflicts with heritage and nature conservation organizations arose because of the construction project, and no tenant could be found for the hotel and restaurant business in the castle. In 1993 the construction work was stopped. For almost 30 years there have been massive subterranean halls under the palace in shell construction.

Most recently, these halls served as storage for Bruno Stefanini’s sometimes curious collection, which included old weapons and explosives.

A memorial to failure

In this state, Brestenberg Castle has become a memorial to failure, writes the SKKG. The search for a use overwhelms the foundation, projects are blocked in disputes between various stakeholder groups.

But now the time has come for a big hit, the foundation believes. Both the preservation of monuments and various other groups have indicated their willingness to work together on the conversion.

It shouldn’t be anything ordinary, nothing boring that is created at Brestenberg Castle. However, this is not the first attempt to plan the future use of the palace – and implementing the plans will not be easy this time either.

We want to do something here that isn’t boring or ordinary.

The president of the foundation nevertheless spread a spirit of optimism and promised a larger sum to refurbish the palace. Money would be available for this, which the foundation could raise from the sale of two other Stefanini castles on Lake Constance (see picture gallery).

The Castles Collection by Bruno Stefanini

Despite all the spirit of optimism, the future use of Brestenberg Castle is subject to strict limits. On the one hand, the castle on Lake Hallwil is in a special zone that restricts its use, and the building is also a listed building. On the other hand, it is crucial that, according to the foundation, the future use must be self-supporting, which is hardly possible for various reasons.

Find the square of the circle

You can’t talk extra money for future operations, said SKKG President Stefanini: “We can’t subsidize the Brestenberg.” No matter what the future use looks like, it has to work economically. This makes it almost impossible for a public catering business to be in place, criticized one resident who was present.

people in tent

Legend:

At an information event, numerous people from the area received first-hand information about the plans for the future of Brestenberg Castle.

SRF/Stefan Ulrich

There are also stumbling blocks in the planned use of the large halls in the basement of the castle. The zoning regulations at the lake hardly allow any commercial-industrial use, explained Seengen municipal mayor Jörg Bruder at the information event. Only hotels and restaurants are possible, other uses are prohibited.

Large concrete hall with columns

After the information event on the future of Brestenberg Castle, there was one conclusion above all: A new use is tricky, expensive and involves many hurdles. Despite all the support from the foundation, the preservation of monuments, nature conservation and the population, it will probably be a long time before the pretty castle on Lake Hallwil wakes up from its slumber.

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