Burg Argen

The Wasserburg Argen was a medieval water castle on the shores of Lake Constance in Langenargen, built between 1330 and 1340 by the Counts of Montfort. It survived fires in the late 15th century and the Thirty Years’ War before being transformed into a baroque palace with an orangery by Count Hugo XVIII of Montfort. After passing to the Habsburgs and later Bavaria, the ruins were saved from demolition in 1810 when Langenargen joined Württemberg. The castle’s history reflects political shifts across centuries, from Montfort ownership to Habsburg control and eventual Bavarian rule. In 1858, King Wilhelm I of Württemberg purchased the ruins and replaced them with Schloss Montfort, a new residence built on the same site. The transformation marked the end of the old water castle’s story and the beginning of a new architectural chapter. Today, Schloss Montfort stands where the Wasserburg once did, overlooking the lake and the surrounding landscape. Visitors find a stately building with traces of its baroque past, set in a peaceful lakeside setting. The grounds offer views of Lake Constance and the distant Alps, while the nearby village retains its historic charm. The site remains a quiet reminder of Langenargen’s layered history.