Thun Castle

Thun Castle (German: Schloss Thun) is a castle in the city of Thun, in the Swiss canton of Bern. It was built in the 12th century, today houses the Thun Castle museum, and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.[1]

Thun Castle
Native name Schloss Thun
LocationThun
Coordinates46°45′36.28″N 7°37′47.36″E
Built12th century
Governing bodyCity of Thun
Location of Thun Castle in Switzerland
An aerial view of the castle
Another view of the castle

History

During the Early Middle Ages there was a small fort and church on the top of the castle hill.[2] The castle was built between 1180 and 1190 by Duke Berthold V of Zähringen, who constructed the still preserved keep to the level of the Knights' Hall (German: Rittersaal). The 14 m (46 ft) tall Knights' Hall was built as the centerpiece of a monument to Zähringen power. However, the family never lived in the castle, preferring Burgdorf Castle. In 1218 it was inherited by the House of Kyburg, who built the upper levels above the Zähringen castle. A quarrel over who would rule the southern Kyburg lands led, in 1322, to Eberhard II von Kyburg murdering his brother Hartmann II at the castle. To protect his newly acquired land from the Habsburgs Eberhard II then sold them to Bern and was promptly given them back as a fief.[2][3] The Kyburgs ruled over the region for nearly two centuries until a failed raid by Rudolf II on Solothurn, in 1382, started the Burgdorferkrieg (also Kyburgerkrieg). After several decisive Bernese victories the Kyburgs were forced to concede an unfavorable peace. In 1384 Bern bought Thun and Burgdorf, the most important cities of the Kyburg lands. The castle came under Bernese control and became the seat of their local administration.

The massive roof (1430–36) comes from the Bernese period. Due to the lack of residences in the castle, in 1429, an administrative and residential wing was added to the west of the keep, built in late Gothic style, and known as the "new castle".[4][5][5] The castle was the seat of the local court and since at least the 17th century there was a prison under the roof of the donjon. In 1886 a new prison was built on the castle grounds. Two years later, in 1888, the museum opened in the castle. For a time the jailer was also the ticket seller and guard for the museum.[6]

In 2006, the castle was bought by the city of Thun from the canton of Bern. Until the end of 2009 the Bernese Oberland regional court was based in the castle.[7]

The castle museum

The castle museum is housed in the five floors of the tower, and includes cultural and historic displays showing the development of the region over some 4,000 years. It is open daily between February and October, and on Sundays only for the rest of the year. The great hall is used for concerts or plays, and can be hired for private events.[4][5]

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See also
  • List of castles in Switzerland

References
  1. "Kantonsliste A-Objekte". KGS Inventar (in German). Federal Office of Civil Protection. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  2. Thun in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  3. Kyburg (Kiburg), von in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  4. "Willkommen im Schlossmuseum Thun" [Welcome to the Castle Museum Thun] (in German). Castle Museum Thun. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  5. "Schloss Thun" [Thun Castle] (in German). City of Thun. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  6. "Über uns: Geschichte" [About us: History] (in German). Castle Museum Thun. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  7. Probst, Roger (2009-12-05). "Abschied des Gerichts vom Schloss Thun" [Farewell to the Court of Thun Castle] (in German). Berner Oberländer. Retrieved 2013-03-12.


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