Zug Castle

The winding castle on the edge of Zug's old town is the oldest surviving secular building in the town of Zug and one of its landmarks. Once the seat of medieval lords and later the representative residence of important Zug families, Zug's historical museum has been housed in the castle since 1983.

Zug Castle - past and present

The origins of the castle date back to the 12th century, and the first traces of settlement are even older. Based on archaeological findings, 26 different construction phases from the 8th to the 20th century have been reconstructed. It is not known who built it. Around 1300, it belonged to the Habsburgs, who temporarily pledged it to the Knights of Hünenberg. After Zug was forced to join the Swiss Confederation in 1352, Peter V von Hünenberg was the first private owner of the castle. In the centuries that followed, it served as a prestigious residence for important Zug families. The building was extensively restored between 1979 and 1982 and opened as a historical museum in 1983. As such, it collects, documents and communicates Zug's history from the High Middle Ages to the present day. 

Tour of the permanent exhibition

In the permanent exhibition, which was redesigned in 2014, each room offers its own thematically self-contained exhibition. The result is a charming mosaic that encourages visitors to return and discover new aspects or delve deeper. History is authentically experienced in the historical rooms: in the Landtwing Cabinet you can feel the influence of French culture, which Zug mercenaries brought back home from foreign service in the 18th century. The Hediger Room shows the history of the castle's ownership and gives an impression of upper middle-class living around 1900. The atmospheric displays in the themed rooms highlight different facets of Zug's cultural history: Rule and warfare in the Middle Ages, religion and the Baroque world of experience, domestic culture, arts and crafts and coinage. You can create your own wallpaper pattern in the blue wallpapered parlour. The wallpaper on the walls is a new print based on a historical model from the 18th century. The popular town model compares Zug around 1750 with the town of today. Complete historical-commercial installations can be seen in a shoemaker's workshop from the 1930s or in the Luthiger chemist's shop. In special exhibitions, the museum regularly presents an in-depth look at current topics.

Castle for children and families

The cartoon character Lili accompanies children of reading age with a map fan through the individual rooms of the castle. Equipped with a castle bag, pre-school children can discover the castle in an age-appropriate and playful way. The specially designed room for children also makes the hearts of young visitors beat faster: it invites them to play, dress up and linger. The adventure tours for families and the "Children lead children" programme are just as much a part of the castle as the themed children's birthday parties.