Weissenburg Castle

Weissenburg Castle is a ruined hilltop fortress above the village of Weissenburg in the municipality of Därstetten, in the Niedersimmental valley of the Swiss canton of Bern. It once anchored the territory of a noble family that ranked among the most influential in the Bernese Oberland.

What is Weissenburg Castle?

The ruin stands at roughly 773 metres above sea level and was the power base of the lords of Weissenburg. The family first shows up in records in 1175, as landholders and vassals of Duke Berthold IV of Zähringen. A secure genealogy starts with Rudolf, documented between 1258 and about 1307. Historians still debate whether the lords were descended from the barons of Erlenbach.

In the mid-13th century the family acquired the castle and lordship of Wimmis, and early in the 14th century the imperial bailiwick of Simmenegg. During the Gümmenen War (1331-1333) they mostly sided against Bern. They are also thought to have founded an Augustinian canons' house in Därstetten, first mentioned in 1228.

How did the castle fall into ruin?

Bern held the lordship as a pledge from 1341 to 1352. It went to the Brandis family in 1368, and Bern bought it outright in 1439. With no further use for the castle, it was left to decay and was abandoned in the 15th century. Conservation work stabilised the remains in 1985-86.

What can you see today?

Several metres of the southern curtain wall survive, along with the round tower. There are no interiors or exhibitions, just the footprint of a medieval stronghold overlooking the valley. Below the ruin sits a compact village of timber Oberland houses, with a handsome old inn.

What else is there in Weissenburg?

The village was long known as a spa, drawing on thermal springs used for around 400 years. The spa trade declined after the First World War, and a fire destroyed the spa hotel in 1974. Bottling of the mineral water stopped in 1988.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Weissenburg Castle? Above Weissenburg village in Därstetten, canton Bern, in the Simmental valley.

Can you visit the ruins? Yes, the walls and tower are visible. Expect an unequipped ruin and wear sturdy shoes.

Who built it? It was the seat of the lords of Weissenburg, a noble house recorded from 1175.

When was it abandoned? In the 15th century, after Bern purchased the lordship in 1439.