Oberhofen Castle

• Address: 3653 Oberhofen, Switzerland
• Phone: +41 33 243 12 35
• E-mail: info@schlossoberhofen.ch
• Website: www.schlossoberhofen.ch
• Working hours: 11.00 - 17.00, Monday - closed
• Entrance fee: adult - 10 euros, children - 2 euros

The business card of Oberhofen am Tunersee is Oberhofen Castle. It is on the right side of Lake Tuna and is, perhaps, the most beautiful, romantic and famous castle in the whole of Switzerland . The images of the small turret in the water are on all the guidebooks in Switzerland and are considered a symbol not only of the city, but of the country. In its present form, the castle is a museum and has a large exposition of paintings, antique furniture and a collection of weapons.

Interesting Facts

1. Due to the fact that the castle has often changed owners for its centuries-old history, it has been constantly restored and rebuilt, it combines styles such as Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, Empire. But not all the owners of the castle did the reconstruction, so by the XIX century from the castle there were almost ruins. What we can now visit and see is the skillful work of restorers, by the way, they are working on the castle now, but at night, so as not to distract tourists from sight.
2. The dungeon tower with sides 11 and 12 meters with a pyramidal roof, and a wall thickness of 2 meters appeared when the castle was run by Walter von Eschenbach. After the completion of the tower, other parts of the castle were built around it.
3. The chapel at the castle is functioning, it hosts the sacrament of baptism and wedding ceremonies. Even in the castle there is a service for organizing a wedding, the cost of the ceremony is 250 euros, free dates can be found on the castle's website.
4. You should also visit the English landscape park around the castle, it was planted under the guidance of the wife of one of the owners of the castle. The park is considered a very romantic place for walking with a beautiful view for photo sessions.

What to see in the castle?

It is necessary to pay attention to a unique collection of paintings from different eras, before the paintings belonged to the Bern Historical Museum , now all the exhibits belong to the castle museum. Also, see the collection of authentic furniture, much preserved from the previous owners of the castle, restored and put on public display.

Men will be interested to see a unique collection of weapons, medieval heraldic symbols of families who lived in the castle, armor of knights and armory. Women are encouraged to look into the children's rooms and get acquainted with interior items, a children's desk, a highchair, a cot for sleeping, unique wooden toys and clothes for the little ones of the Middle Ages.

It is noteworthy that the restorers of the castle were equipped so that it does not look like a museum, which bored tourists. All the rooms inside are made as if the duke now lives in them with his family and servants. The peculiarity of the castle is the presence of many passages, stairs, rooms, secret corners, the main thing is not to get lost and see everything in the castle. For example, in one of the hidden rooms of the castle there are 18 stained-glass windows, which were made to order in 1864. Also in one of the rooms there is a traveler's collection. It features folding cutlery, mini-chess, circulars and rulers for distance measurement, travel bags for spouses von Pourtale.

On the fourth floor in the central tower of the castle there is an art gallery of the Middle Ages, above it there is an ancient library and at the very top of the tower there is a Turkish smoking room, which the Earl of Portoile was equipped with under the impression of traveling through Constantinople.

How to get there?

1. From Basel , Romanshorn, St. Gallen, Zurich and Bern by a half-hour bus to the stop "Schloss Oberhofen".
2. From the city of Thun, you can reach in three ways: by bus NFB number 21 to the stop Oberhofen am Tunersee, by ship "Blumlisalp" through the lake and by car, after the town of Tun Oberhofen the third town, to go half an hour to "Schiffandte" or the sign "Schloss Oberhofen" .

Opening Hours:

The castle can be visited from May 8 until October 23. On Monday the castle is closed, and from Tuesday to Sunday works from 11-00 to 17-00. Inspection of the castle goes without guides. The cost is 10 euros adults, 2 euros are children. Groups of 10 people for 8 euros.

The park is open daily from 10 April to 23 October from 10-00 to 20-00. Walking in the park is free.