Thun Castle

The medieval gatekeeper of the Bernese Oberland with its shining white towers.

The enchanting atmosphere of the castle and the friendly hospitality of the hotel are just some of the reasons to visit this beautiful place. Thun Castle sits above the "Altstadt" and Aare River dominating the surrounding landscape with its imposing beautiful white castle walls and 4 turrets. Thun Castle is truly the gateway to the Swiss Alps and their important passes leading south to Italy.

Castle courtyard and its surroundings
Within the castle walls is a small courtyard providing access to the hotel and museum. The castle’s white walls tower up above into the sky and would have left a very imposing impression many centuries ago. These walls are flanked on all sides by the surrounding buildings and structures that wrap around the castle. This leaves only a very narrow path on all sides of the castle to walk and enjoy the views of the surrounding city and its landscape. Walking out the castle gate and you can enjoy the cobble stone road that gently slops down to the far end and the Thun City Church. You will be rewarded with a beautiful view of lake Thun and the alps when you reach the far end of the church grounds. This is best enjoyed on a warm summer’s eve…

Castle museum
The Thun Castle museum is situated in the original castle tower walls with its four turrets. To access the interior of the castle walls and visit the different floors you will be taking narrow turret stairs leading up to each of the 6 levels until you reach the top chambers under the roof. You can then see the different views overlooking the city the surround valley and alps. The museum has numerous temporary exhibitions along with its historical museum that includes the medieval period and the famous Grand Hall or as its called in German the "Rittersaal" dating back to the Late Middle Ages.

Brief history

During the Early Middle Ages there was a small fort and church on the top of the castle hill. The castle was built between 1180 and 1190 by Duke Berthold V of Zähringen, who constructed the still preserved keep to the level of the Knights' Hall (German: Rittersaal). The 14 m (46 ft) tall Knights' Hall was built as the centerpiece of a monument to Zähringen power. However, the family never lived in the castle, preferring Burgdorf Castle. In 1218 it was inherited by the House of Kyburg, who built the upper levels above the Zähringen castle. A quarrel over who would rule the southern Kyburg lands led, in 1322, to Eberhard II von Kyburg murdering his brother Hartmann II at the castle. To protect his newly acquired land from the Habsburgs Eberhard II then sold them to Bern and was promptly given them back as a fief. The Kyburgs ruled over the region for nearly two centuries until a failed raid by Rudolf II on Solothurn, in 1382, started the Burgdorferkrieg (also Kyburgerkrieg). After several decisive Bernese victories the Kyburgs were forced to concede an unfavorable peace. In 1384 Bern bought Thun and Burgdorf, the most important cities of the Kyburg lands. The castle came under Bernese control and became the seat of their local administration.

The massive roof (1430–36) comes from the Bernese period. Due to the lack of residences in the castle, in 1429, an administrative and residential wing was added to the west of the keep, built in late Gothic style, and known as the "new castle". The castle was the seat of the local court and since at least the 17th century there was a prison under the roof of the donjon. In 1886 a new prison was built on the castle grounds. Two years later, in 1888, the museum opened in the castle. For a time the jailer was also the ticket seller and guard for the museum.

In 2006, the castle was bought by the city of Thun from the canton of Bern. Until the end of 2009 the Bernese Oberland regional court was based in the castle.

Link & referenced from Wikipedia

Visiting

Castle Museum
Visiting times and dates
April to October
Every day 10 am – 5 pm
November to January
Every Sunday from 1 pm – 4 pm
February and March
Every day 1 pm – 4 pm
Please check for opening hours
during the Christmas holidays.

Click below for:
Opening hours / Entrence fee

Entrence Fee
For the museum only

Castle Courtyard
Open to the public