was again used as administrative seat from 1803 until 1831, when it was sold by auction to one Franz Heinrich Hirzel of Winterthur who intended to use it as a quarry. To prevent its destruction, the castle was bought by the exiled Polish count Alexander Sobansky (1799–1861) in 1835. Sobansky resided in the castle for the next 30 years. In 1865 the castle was opened as a "Castle and Art Museum" by Matthäus Pfau. Under the next owner, Eduard Bodmer, the museum remained open. In 1917 the Canton of Zurich bought the castle back. Since 1999, it is run by a society, the Verein Museum Schloss Kyburg. Events Every summer the Kyburgiade, an international chamber music festival, takes place in the inner courtyard of the castle. Castle site The castle forms an irregular quadrangle with a single courtyard atop a steep hill above the Töss valley. South of the castle, between the medieval neck ditches, is the French formal garden which was designed in 1700 by Caspar Schwarzenbach. The entrance to the castle is through the outer gate located on the north-east corner. The gate house was rebuilt in 1579-80 and decorated with coats of arms by Christoph and Josias Murer. A zwinger or narrow, defensive passage leads from the outer gate to the inner gate. A walkway goes over the zwinger and connects the palas or great hall with the Willenturm (Willen tower) on the north corner of the castle. The inner gate is protected by the bergfried which was built in 1424 with a roof from 1444. Views See also List of castles in Switzerland References External links Site of the Verein Museums in the canton of Zürich Castles in the canton of Zürich Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Zürich Historic house museums in Switzerland Illnau-Effretikon