Hauptwil-Gottshaus: Pond Landscape and Industrial Heritage

This profile focuses on Hauptwil: the village is in the canton of Thurgau, southeast of Bischofszell, and is part of the political municipality of Hauptwil-Gottshaus. The pond landscape, historic buildings and industrial history shape the aspects of the village presented here. When planning your visit, you can focus on nature, architectural history or the development of the manufacturing settlement.

Pond Landscape and Public Swimming Area

The pond landscape of Hauptwil is now a nature reserve and provides a habitat for many rare animal and plant species. Its history goes back a long way: around 1430, the collegiate chapter of St. Pelagius in Bischofszell had several carp ponds built between Hauptwil and Wilen. Later, these ponds enabled the use of hydropower and the industrialization of Hauptwil. This makes it possible to consider the natural environment and local history together.

There is an official public swimming area at Hauptwil Pond, operated by the political municipality. As operating arrangements may change, check the latest information before your visit. This allows you to include a visit to the pond in your plans without treating the swimming area and the nature reserve as the same offering.

Hauptwil Castle and Its Gardens

Hauptwil Castle was built between 1664 and 1665; the year 1665 is also inscribed on the main entrance door. The gardens include a baroque garden and a baroque herb bed, as well as a water lily pond and an inner courtyard. A wildflower meadow orchard lies to the east of the grounds. The different garden areas give the castle ensemble several facets, from baroque design to the wildflower meadow.

The castle is not open to the public. However, the castle and its grounds can be explored several times a year. If you plan a visit, check the announced dates: opportunities to explore are available at certain times of the year, not as unrestricted access.

Manufacturing History in the Village Center

Hauptwil developed from a farming village into a manufacturing settlement shaped by linen production. The Gonzenbach family of textile merchants influenced the village’s development in the 17th and 18th centuries. Langbau West is a physical testament to this history and is considered the oldest known example of workers’ housing in Switzerland. Langbau West is one of a group of three workers’ row houses: Langbau, Kurzbau and Gelbbau. Together, they form an elongated triangle in the historic village center and are part of the manufacturing complex of the former Obere Rotfarb.

The Hauptwil-Bischofszell Industrial Heritage Trail leads from Hauptwil to Bischofszell. Since 1995, information boards and brochures have presented the approximately 300-year industrial history of the two villages in the Oberthurgau region. The route thus links the place names Hauptwil and Bischofszell with their shared industrial history, while its subject matter is not limited to just one village.

Church and Organ Case

The Reformed Church of Hauptwil also brings together architectural and decorative history. Emil Kessler built it in 1886/88 as a brick building. The church contains a magnificently carved organ case dating from around 1700. It came from the castle chapel and was moved here in 1886. The church’s construction period and the older origins of the organ case thus represent two distinct historical periods at the same location.

Hiking Through the Pond Landscape

The circular hike to the Waldschenke is 9.2 kilometers long and takes 2 hours 25 minutes. It is accessible year-round and passes through the pond landscape to Hauptwil; seasonal conditions may affect walking conditions. This means you can also consider the landscape as part of a specific hiking plan. The ponds are also a nature reserve and a historic starting point for the development of hydropower and industry in Hauptwil. When planning your stay, you can combine these natural and historical themes with the architectural landmarks in the village center.

Discover more destinations: Wilen, Erlen, Zihlschlacht-Sitterdorf, Bischofszell, Kradolf-Schönenberg

Back to the main travel overview: Bischofszell.