Burgdorf Castle

The Burgdorf Castle offers you the unique opportunity to wonder, eat, sleep and celebrate, since it is a museum, a restaurant and a youth hostel, all in one ! In the museum, you will discover a diversity of world views, through its different cabinets of curiosities. In the restaurant you will taste regional dishes in a historical atmosphere, and at the youth hostel you will get a comfortable night's sleep surrounded by old stones, either in a double room, a family room or in a dorm. Burgdorf Castle is the ideal place to celebrate marriages, holding family gatherings or organising seminaries, all in a memorable setting.

An architectural heritage of national importance

Burgdorf Castle is one of the oldest and most important castles in Switzerland. The main buildings, still well preserved, were constructed in red bricks around the year 1200, under the rule of Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen. After his death, the House of Kyburg made the castle their residence, until they loose the war of Burgdorf and have to sell the county of Burgdorf to the Republic of Bern.

An Bernese avoyer, or Shultheiss, (a mayor in medieval Switzerland) took over the castle, making it an administrative centre of the canton, with both a courthouse and a prison, which closed in 2012. In April 2020, the castle re-opened as a museum, together with a restaurant, a youth hostel and halls available for rent.

A museum of curiosities and discoveries

Burgdorf Castle is a large cabinet of curiosities where the objects originating from many centuries and from all continents invite to wonder and discovery. Different exhibitions, based on stories from the castle itself, from Burgdorf and from the Emmental region creates bridges with the outside world and to the present time. Both young and old visitors can themselves become active and solve mysteries or explore the must-sees by following specific paths through the castle. Who will find the castle ghost? 

A restaurant for delicacies and a banquet hall for celebrations

The 60-seat restaurant is designed to be a meeting place for both the Burgdorf inhabitants and the castle visitors. The guests will be served regional specialities at every meal of the day. The hall of the old Court of Justice offers a charming setting for lavish festivities, banquets or events, for up to 80 persons. A terrace in the castle's courtyard brings life to the old walls, and private cocktail parties can take place in the tower garden. Seven Fridays per year, the historical ceremonial hall of Burgdorf Castle is also open for marriage celebrations.

Staying overnight in the castle

Who has never dreamt of sleeping in a castle or a in a museum? At Burgdorf Castle, the dream can become true! The comfortable rooms of the youth hostel also hosts small stagings. The youth hostel is open all year-round and offers a total of 115 beds at reasonable prices, either in double rooms, in family rooms or in dorms. The breakfast and museum entrance fee are included in the accommodation price.

Discover the region

Burgdorf Castle is an ideal starting point to discover the Emmental region. The unique landscape calls for hiking or bicycle tours, with or without electricity! The city of Burgdorf and its region offers a vast array of cultural and historical activities and sports events. As a guest of the youth hostel, you are entitled to discounts on certain offers.