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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.