Löwenberg Castle

Löwenberg Castle (Schloss Löwenberg, also known in French as Château de la Motte) sits just east of the centre of Murten/Morat in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. What began as a farming and wine estate grew into a manor house, and today it belongs to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), which runs it as a training centre. It is listed as a heritage site of national significance.

What kind of castle is it?

Löwenberg is not a classic medieval fortress. It is an estate that developed in stages. In the late Middle Ages it included mills, farms, vineyards and an inn, and it belonged to the Velga family, Fribourg nobility. The first owner named in the records is Sebastian von Diesbach, in 1511.

How did it change over the centuries?

During the 16th and 17th centuries the property changed hands several times, and a winegrower's house was extended into a proper manor. In 1664 Wolfgang von Mülinen traded his own holdings for the Löwenberg estate near Murten. In 1794 it passed to the de Rougemont banking family of Neuchâtel, who kept it into the 20th century.

What lay here before the castle?

The ground is much older than the manor. Excavations linked to the A1 motorway uncovered traces of a Late Bronze Age settlement. The Löwenberg burial ground, the most important in the municipality, was used for over a thousand years, from the Middle Bronze Age into the La Tène period. A stretch of Roman road has also been documented here.

Who owns it now?

SBB bought the castle and its land from the de Rougemont family in 1973 and set up a training centre. Today it operates as Centre Löwenberg, with some buildings used as classrooms. That means the interiors are not a standard museum visit, and access depends on the centre's events and rules.

How do you get there, and what else is nearby?

Löwenberg lies by Murten, so the lakeside town is the natural base. From Murten you can walk or cycle to the estate and view the building and grounds from outside. Murten itself deserves time: its medieval town walls with a walkable wall-top path, the old-town lanes and the shore of Lake Murten are the main sights.

When should you visit?

Late spring and summer suit walks around the lake and through the nearby vineyards. If you hope to go inside, check the SBB Centre Löwenberg website first to see whether the site is open for visitors on your dates.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Löwenberg Castle?

The site belongs to SBB and works as a training centre rather than a museum. Entry to the interiors depends on the centre's rules. You can see the exterior and surroundings on a walk from Murten.

Is Château de la Motte the same castle?

Yes, it is a second name for the property in the municipality of Murten/Morat. Do not confuse it with other places called Löwenberg, for example in Graubünden or Germany.

Who owned the castle?

First the Velga family, then Sebastian von Diesbach from 1511, several other families after that, and from 1794 the de Rougemont bankers. SBB has owned it since 1973.

Which canton is Löwenberg in?

Fribourg, in the municipality of Murten/Morat, a bilingual region on the border between German- and French-speaking Switzerland.