Regensberg was founded as a hilltop fortified settlement about 1245 by Baron Lüthold of Regensberg. The fortifications include a 21 m (69 ft) high round tower dating from the 16th or 17th century and a 57 m (187 ft) deep water well. The church, originally dating from the 13th century, was rebuilt in 1506.


Regensberg in Topographia Helvetiae by Matthäus Merian (1645)
During the mid 13th Century relations between the Barons of Regensberg and the city of Zürich became strained. At about this same time, the barons began to argue with the Habsburgs over who would inherit the lands of the now extinct Kyburg family. In 1267 the disputes led to war between the barons and the combined Zürich and Habsburg forces. The barons lost this war, and rapidly declined in power over the following half century. In 1302 they sold Regensberg to the Habsburgs.

The Habsburgs established an Amt Regensberg with a Habsburg appointed Schultheiß leading the town council. Under the Habsburgs the town expanded into a market town and Regensberg castle was the political center of the area now corresponding to the Dielsdorf district.

In 1409 the Habsburg duke Frederick IV (known as Frederick of the Empty Pockets) had to pawn Regensberg to the city of Zürich. However it wasn't until 1417 that Regensberg was fully owned by Zürich. They established an Obervogtei at Regensberg which ruled over 13 surrounding villages.

In 1540 the upper castle burned down, but the lower gates and the donjon survived because they were separated from the upper castle by a deep ditch. The upper castle was rebuilt in the following year. During the Reformation in Zürich the St. Martin's Abbey on Zürichberg at Fluntern was demolished. Stone blocks and two bells from the abbey were brought by ox-cart to the church at Regensberg to rebuild it.

Following the collapse of the Swiss Ancien Régime in 1798, Regensburg became part of the district of Bülach. In 1803, with the Act of Mediation, Regensberg became the capital of its own sub-district. In 1831 this expanded to become the district of Regensberg. In 1871 the capital of the district moved to Dielsdorf and Regensberg became an independent municipality in that district.

Historic attractions include the half-timbered "Rote Rose" house dating from 1540. Wikipedia

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