Save this place and discover nearby attractions with NextOnTrip
In the app you can add it to your favorites, see what else is worth visiting nearby on the map, and earn a badge for your visit.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.
About this place
Alt-Bubenberg Castle is a medieval earthwork site in the municipality of Frauenkappelen, canton of Bern, Switzerland. It occupies a mountain spur high above the Aare, close to what is now Lake Wohlensee. No masonry survives, so the appeal lies in the terrain and the story rather than in grand walls.
What was Alt-Bubenberg?
A spur castle, built on a ridge projecting into the valley. Its origins go back to the 12th century, the first written record dates from 1241, and it was abandoned in the 14th century. It was never rebuilt, which is why only the lie of the land remains.
Who lived here?
The castle is linked to the Bernese patrician family von Bubenberg. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland counts it among the family's oldest holdings, alongside Neu-Bubenberg near Schliern. Almost all the male Bubenbergs were knights, burghers and councillors of Bern, and eleven served as Schultheiss, the city's chief magistrate. The "Alt" (old) in the name sets this site apart from the later Neu-Bubenberg.
What can you see today?
- the castle mound,
- two earth ramparts,
- a neck ditch (Halsgraben),
- a well shaft (Sodbrunnen).
The absence of wall remains suggests a timber-and-earth fortification protected by a palisade. There are no reconstructions or exhibitions here, so it helps to read up on the Bubenberg family beforehand.
What else is nearby?
Frauenkappelen sits on a terrace between Lake Wohlensee and the Gäbelbach stream, in the Laupen district. The village was home to an Augustinian convent, Sancta Maria de Cappellis, founded between 1228 and 1240, which several Bubenberg daughters entered. The castle fits easily into a walk around the Wohlensee close to Bern.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any castle walls left?
No. The mound, ramparts, ditch and well survive. The lack of walls points to an earth-and-timber fortification.
When was Alt-Bubenberg built?
It dates from the 12th century, was first recorded in 1241 and abandoned in the 14th century.
How is it linked to the Bubenbergs?
It is among the family's oldest holdings. The family gave Bern many knights, councillors and eleven Schultheisse.
Where exactly is it?
In Frauenkappelen, canton of Bern, on a spur above the Aare and Wohlensee, at roughly 46.958 N, 7.349 E.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.