Burg Gerzensee

Burg Gerzensee is the former seat of the medieval lords of Kramburg, standing on the Festi hill above the village of Gerzensee in the canton of Bern. Today it is known as the Old Castle (Altes Schloss) and remains in private hands, yet the building and the heritage village around it make a pleasant short stop.

What is the history of Burg Gerzensee?

Gerzensee lies in the Bern-Mittelland district, on a terrace above the lake that gives the municipality its name. The settlement first appears in written records in 1228 as "Gercentse". On the Festi hill the Freiherren von Kramburg held a castle from which they governed part of the valley. Around 1300 the estate passed to another noble, and until 1798 the lordship repeatedly changed owners through inheritance and sale.

A fire hit the castle in 1518. Jakob von Wattenwyl had it rebuilt in the late Gothic style, with Balthasar Ambühl as master builder. The Stuker family bought it in 1947, and coats of arms of earlier owners can still be seen at the site.

How does the Old Castle differ from the New Castle?

Gerzensee has several grand houses, and visitors often mix them up. The New Castle (Neues Schloss) dates from around 1700, when Samuel Morlot built a Baroque country residence. The Swiss National Bank bought it in 1980, and since 1984 it has housed the Study Center Gerzensee, a training centre for central bankers and economists, with its first courses held in 1986. The Rosengarten, nicknamed the Middle Castle, dates from about 1670. The medieval Burg on Festi is the oldest of the three.

Can you visit the castle?

The Old Castle is privately owned and offers no regular tours. Hiking guides describe it as hard to access, so plan to admire it from outside rather than go in.

What else is there to see in Gerzensee?

The whole village and the hamlet of Vordere Chlapf are listed in the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites. From the 17th to the 19th century, patrician families from Bern built country houses here, which explains the rich architecture. Below the village lies Lake Gerzensee with a walking route around it. The municipality stretches from the southeastern edge of the Belpberg ridge to the Aare river, which opens up easy hikes. About 1,200 people live in Gerzensee.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Burg Gerzensee? No. It is a private property of the Stuker family, and the interior is not open like a museum.

Who built the castle? The Kramburg lords founded it, and Jakob von Wattenwyl commissioned the late Gothic rebuilding after the 1518 fire.

Is Burg Gerzensee the same as the Neues Schloss? No. The New Castle, from around 1700, belongs to the Swiss National Bank and hosts the Study Center Gerzensee.

Is it worth visiting just for the castle? Combine it with a stroll through the listed village and around the lake.