Schadburg ruin

Schadburg ruin (also spelled Schadenburg) is what remains of a medieval castle on the slope above the village of Ringgenberg, in the canton of Bern in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. It lies above Lake Brienz, close to Interlaken, at roughly 46.713 N, 7.916 E.

What is this place?

Schadburg is a castle ruin about which remarkably little is known. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz) describes it as a medieval castle site that no written charter documents. That means the date of construction, the builder and the time of abandonment are all unknown. Today the gap is filled mostly by tourism texts from the Interlaken, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun regions.

According to those descriptions, what survives is a rectangular stone structure standing above the houses of Ringgenberg. The remains are modest and plain, not a sprawling complex of towers and curtain walls, so the visit is best treated as a short walk with views rather than a tour of a classic castle.

The legend of the baron

The site has a story of its own. A local legend says that in the 13th century a baron, named Kuno von Brienz in some versions and Kuno von Ringgenberg in others, wanted to build a castle with a dungeon here. He fell victim to a revenge attack, and the project was never finished. This is folklore rather than confirmed history, and the versions differ in their details, including the baron's name.

A second explanation is more practical: the building was meant to keep watch over the trade route running between Interlaken and Brienz along the lake's northern shore.

Traces older than the Middle Ages

The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland lists the former castle tower of the Schadburg among the places where stone-cist graves linked to the Neolithic, with crouched burials, were found. This points to a human presence on the hill long before any fortress stood on it, although details of these finds are sparse.

The neighbour: Ringgenberg castle

Schadburg should not be confused with nearby Ringgenberg castle, which is far better documented. It was first mentioned in 1240 and, according to studies, was built in stages from the late 12th century. The lords of Ringgenberg controlled the right bank of Lake Brienz. Both sites are ruins today and can be combined in one outing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Schadburg the same as Schadenburg? Yes, these are two spellings of the same name; tourism pages more often use Schadenburg.

Is the founding date known? No. No document mentions the structure, so its origins remain unknown.

What will I see on site? A rectangular stone structure above the village of Ringgenberg and views over the Lake Brienz area.

Is it worth half a day? Pair it with a visit to Ringgenberg castle and a stroll through the lakeside village. The ruin itself is small and needs only a short stop.

Where is it? In the municipality of Ringgenberg, canton of Bern, between Interlaken and Brienz.