Thun Castle (Schloss Thun), Switzerland

Thun Castle, Switzerland. Photo: joe4statenisland/Wikimedia Commons

Thun Castle (Schloss Thun) is a castle in the city of Thun, in the Swiss canton of Bern. It was built in the 12th century, today houses the Thun Castle museum, and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

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 (Rittersaal). The 14 m (46 ft) tall Knights' Hall was built as the centerpiece of a monument to Zähringen power.

In 1218 it was inherited by the House of Kyburg, who built the upper levels above the Zähringen castle. In 1384 Bern bought Thun and Burgdorf. 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.

In 2006, the castle was bought by the city of Thun from the canton of Bern.

The castle museum is housed in the five floors of the tower, and includes cultural and historic displays showing the development of the region over some 4,000 years. The great hall is used for concerts or plays, and can be hired for private events.

The Knight's Hall, Castle Thun. Photo: Andrew Bossi/Wikimedia Commons

Address: Schlossberg 1, 3600 Thun, Switzerland

Opening hours:

April to October: every day 10 am – 5 pm
November to January: every Sunday from 1 pm – 4 pm (open daily between 24th December and 31st December 2019)
February to March: every day 1 pm – 4 pm

How to get there: You can reach the castle from the railway Station and the landing stage in approx. 15 minutes on foot.

The public parking space City Ost Schlossberg offers space for 310 cars and an elevator up to the castle.

Sources

• www.wikipedia.org
• www.schlossthun.ch

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