That what we today call “the castle” is the physical and historical centre of Isny, the cultural and political birthplace of the city. For hundreds of years, it served a variety of functions – monastery, noble residence, military hospital, geriatric clinic of the city of Stuttgart – during which time one thing remained constant - it was closed to the general public.

The people of Isny therefore knew little about the historic landmark when it came up for sale in 1997. Neither the city government nor the church were financially able to take over the property, and offers from private investors to purchase and use the property were not convincing. Then came the newspaper headline “Citizens Take Responsibility” - an initiative of Isny residents had purchased the site. The main building (the former monastery, later the castle) with its beautiful moulding and the hallowed refectory passed into the possession of the city councilman Hans Müller and his brother Rolf.

This interim solution lasted until 1999, when the landmark was entrusted to a non-profit foundation. The support buildings remain a commonhold property, in which, following restoration work, members are offered the possibility to “live in a castle“.

The foundation, registered with the State of Baden-Württemberg under the German name "Friedrich Hechelmann und Schloss Isny Kunst- und Kulturstiftung" (Friedrich Hechelmann and Isny Castle Artistic and Cultural Foundation), pursues three goals in accordance with its charter:

• To maintain and care for the historic property for the Isny and the region
• To secure the body of work of the artist Friedrich Hechelmann for the public
• To promote art and culture in Isny and the region

The restoration of the property (the City of Stuttgart had modified the building for its use as a nursing home), which has been largely completed, was possible due to generous financial support from Hechelmann and Josef Baschnegger, Rolf and Hans Müller, and Annemarie and Walter Lautermann.

The castle’s remarkable moulding work was able to be restored and uncovered with support from the Town of Isny, the State Office for Historical Preservation and the Denkmalstiftung Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg Historical Monuments Foundation). The project was supported and advised by the Isny town government and town council, as well as the Wangen tax authority and the District government of Tübingen.

Today, the foundation is able to generate income through renting the property (for example to the Castle Gallery), which is then used to pay maintenance expenses as well as to repair long-term damage, meet contemporary building codes, and maintain the property’s green spaces for the public. The wrought-iron castle gate, a symbol of the castle popular on postcards, has also been restored and secured for posterity.

Larger investments to repair and restore the Refectory, which suffers from water damage and previous modifications, as well as the castle’s roof, dome and tower, and the courtyard between the Church of St. George and St. James and the chapel have begun and require a great deal of financial expense, as well as volunteer effort.
The castle’s gates have been opened and today, when people talk about “our castle“ and understand the cultural treasure that the castle represents, it is clear that the public effort to preserve the castle has paid off.

The Foundation’s Board:

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