• Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle

Spiez Castle


Spiez, BE
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
  • Spiez Castle
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Spiez Castle – 1300 years of history

Located on a peninsula in Lake Thun, this castle and its chapel are a cultural heritage site of national importance. The museum of the castle interactively introduces visitors to the location’s 1300 year-old history. Hands-on crafting stations, 3D-viewers and tours like our knight's trail ensure a great experience for children and families.  The park, rose garden and Baroque herbary are ideal surroundings for a short stroll. Spiez Castle also regularly presents art exhibitions. The Romanesque chapel with its beautiful frescos is yet another cultural jewel on the shores of Lake Thun and provides the stylish setting for private events and weddings.

 

Changing times, shifting ownership

As illustrated by a spectacularly furnished tomb dating back to AD 680 shows, the peninsula in the Bay of Spiez had already become a centre of power at the time of the arrival of the Alamanni. In the 12th century the Lords of Strättlingen constructed a great hall and stone tower at this location. Depictions of jousts in the tower as well as descriptions by the minstrel Heinrich von Strättlingen recorded in the Codex Manesse attest to the courtly lifestyle they cultivated.

In 1338 the von Bubenbergs, a prominent Bernese family, gained ownership of the castle. The most prominent member of the von Bubenberg family was Adrian von Bubenberg, who successfully defended the small town of Murten (Morat) during the Burgundian Wars.

In 1516 Ludwig von Erlach bought the castle and it remained in the hands of the von Erlach family until 1875. In 1614 Franz Ludwig von Erlach oversaw the construction of a ceremonial hall, which he had decorated with Early Baroque stucco work by the Ticino artist Antonio Castelli.

In 1927 the "Spiez Castle Foundation" took over the upkeep of the castle and made it accessible to the public.

 

Tracing the castle’s former inhabitants

The exhibition focuses on the former inhabitants of the castle. Today the medieval keep brings to life  Heinrich von Strättlingen’s living environment with its jousting knights and serenading minstrels. In the Gothic parlour rooms visitors encounter Adrian von Bubenberg, sitting atop his warhorse, and the second floor is dedicated to Franz Ludwig von Erlach, his two wives and 37 children. A feast is being prepared in the castle kitchens and in the Baroque hall a lute plays a merry tune.

 

Art Exhibition 2022 - Otto Tschumi. Surreal Worlds

Schloss Spiez is dedicating this year's art exhibition to the Bernese artist Otto Tschumi (1904-1985), who, along with Alberto Giacometti, Meret Oppenheim, Serge Brignoni and Max Seligmann, is one of the most important representatives of Surrealism in Switzerland. The approximately seventy works from Otto Tschumi's estate, which is in the care of the ART-Nachlassstiftung Bern, include paintings as well as impressive charcoal drawings, lithographs and woodcuts. The exhibition thus provides a comprehensive overview of the multi-layered oeuvre of this unmistakable virtuoso of form and colour. The exhibition is accompanied by a variety of events such as art-historical and literary guided tours, art workshops for young and old, and a film series on the theme of surrealism.
02.07. - 16.10.2022

 

A castle for young and old alike

Young children will particularly enjoy the knight's trail and hands-on crafting stations, which provide a playful opportunity to travel back to a time when the castle was still occupied. A diverse range of events, from tours and excursions to concerts and the "Spiezer Tagungen" conference, offer an interesting and educational experience for adults.

A variety of additional material as well as specialised tours and workshops are available to schools and groups. The museum shop offers books, maps, gifts, toys as well as local specialities and "Spiez wine". The castle café offers coffee and snacks. The café also offers drinks receptions for private parties and the former TV chef Torsten Götz hosts a culinary workshop for guests.

 

Around the castle

A visit to the castle is very easily combined with a boat tour on Lake Thun, which will also stop at some of the other castles on the shores of the lake. For the artistically minded visitors the Picasso exhibition at the Interlaken Museum of Art holds a special interest. Last but not least the area surrounding the castle is ideal for walking and hiking.

opening hours

Currently closed 

Castle Museum: 1 May to 31 October 2023, Monday 2 - 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., July and August daily - 6 p.m.

Public holidays: 1 May: 2 - 5 p.m. / Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. / 1 August: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Prices

Individual visitors

  • Castle museum: CHF 12
  • Reduced: CHF 10
  • Children 6-16 years: CHF 5

Families and groups

  • Families: 2 adults and up to 4 children until 16 years: CHF 30
  • Guided tours for groups (1 person to max. 25 persons): CHF 200 - 350 and reduced entry per person

Reduced Entrance (valid only with an identifiction card)

  • Senior citizens
  • Disabled
  • Students up to 30 years
  • groups up to 12 persons
  • Culture Card (Kulturlegi)
  • Guest card „Berner Oberland“

Free Entrance (valid only with an identifiction card)

  • Members Association of Friends of the Castle Spiez
  • Swiss Museum Pass
  • Raiffeisen Card (Member Plus)
  • Swiss Travel Pass
visitor information

Castle church, park, baroque herb garden and rosarium are publicly accessible.
Picnic area, playground, restaurants and swimming bath are within walking distance.

The art exhibition is handicapped accessible, but not the castle museum.

Gastronomy
Arrival

By train to Spiez station (from Bern 30 minutes, from Interlaken West 15 minutes, from Brig 30 minutes).
From Spiez station by post bus to "Spiez, Eden Hotel" station (2 minutes ride), from there 5 minutes walk to the castle. 
From Spiez train station 12 minutes by feet.

By boat, 5 minutes of walk to the castle.

Parking area at the castle.

Google maps directions

Tips

Combine your visit to the castle ...

... with a trip on the steamboat Blümlisalp and discover the other castles on Lake Thun.
... with a swim in Lake Thun (seven minutes' walk from the castle to the bathing area).
... with the Spiezer vine nature trail through the vineyards around the castle.
... with a walk along the Spiez circuit trail.
... with an exotic experience at Tropenhaus Frutigen (10 minutes by train).

From the castle cellar: Spiez wines, sparkling wine, schnapps and gift packages
Wines and schnaps 

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