DEUTSCHLAND | GERMANY |
Bundesland: Baden-Württemberg | |
Regierungsbezirk: Tübingen | |
Landkreis: Bodenseekreis |
Langenargen is situated at an elevation of 400 m on the northern shore of the Bodensee (Lake Constance) near the mouth of the river Argen. Around AD 500 the Alemanni began to settle at this place which was first mentioned as Arguna in 770. In 1290 the area beacme in possession of the Counts of Montfort. Argen obtained the status of a market town in 1447 and that of a town in 1453. However, when the estates of Argen and Tettnang were merged in 1525, Argen lost the status of a town. Between 1612 and 1763, the Counts of Montfort operated a mint in Langenargen. Towards the end of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), in 1647/49, the town was occupied by Swedish troops and was largely destroyed by a fire. In 1780 the county of Montfort was sold to Austria. Langenargen later became part of the Kingdom of Württemberg. Since the mid-19th century, tourism became the major economic factor for the municipality.
The castle Schloss Montfort [left] is the landmark of Langenargen. The oldest castle in this place was built in 1343 on a small peninsula reaching into the lake. After the castle's fortifications of the 16th century were torn down in 1720, it was transformed into a Baroque summer residence of the counts of Montfort in 1735. After the purchase of Montfort by Austria in 1780, the castle first served as a jail. Later, it was sold to Bavaria and started to fall into dereliction. Finally, in 1810, it was sold to the citizens of Langenargen who began to use the ruins as a quarry. Only one year later, King Friedrich of Württemberg bought the ruins. The present castle in Moorish-Classicist style was begun in 1861 by King Wilhelm I who named it Villa Argena. The castle was completed by Wilhelms successor Karl I of Württemberg who introduced the name Schloss Montfort. The castle was sold off in 1873. Since 1961 it is in possession of the municipaliy of Langenargen.
The Catholic parish church Sankt Martin [right] was built in splendid Baroque style in 1722.
The north tower was added in 1735.