Burgdorf Castle

Burgdorf Castle sits enthroned on a mighty rock. Around 1200, Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen had the older castle replaced by today's mighty palace. At that time, Burgdorf was one of the central bases and preferred residences of this noble family from the Black Forest.

Today the castle is the largest, most complete and best-preserved castle complex in Zähring.

The history of the castle
There is a legend about the origins of Burgdorf Castle, which was poetically embodied by Jeremias Gotthelf. A terrible dragon and an enchanting maiden are said to have lived near the castle rock. In 712, the brave brothers Sintram and Bertram managed to kill the beast and built a castle on the rocks. So far the legend: The founding of the castle was different, even if little is known about it. What is certain is that the Counts of Rheinfelden in Burgdorf owned a castle, which in 1090 became the property of the Dukes of Zähringen.
Around 1200, Duke Berchtold V, the last of the Zähringers, had a number of towns built to consolidate his rule, including Burgdorf and from here Bern.
In the course of this foundation, the castle was also rebuilt and received its current form with a residential tower (palas), a defense tower (keep) and a hall. The castle was built with brick, a building material that was unknown in the region at the time, so it was red and looked particularly majestic. In its generosity it is reminiscent of royal residences. This and the large town church planned by the duke allow the conclusion that Burgdorf was intended as the center of Zähringian Burgundy.
After the death of Berchtold V in 1218, the castle passed to the noble family of Kyburg. The castle served as a count's residence until 1384. After the Burgdorfer war was lost in 1383, the Kyburgers had to sell their county of Burgdorf to the aspiring city republic of Bern. With the transition to Bern, a Bernese mayor moved to the castle. Thus, the noble castle had become an authoritarian castle. Under Bernese rule, it received one or two conversions and expansions, but the character of the building has not changed from 1200 to the present day.
Burgdorf Castle is considered the best-preserved castle complex in Zähring and is a historical monument of national importance. Today it is used as a museum, restaurant and youth hostel with a municipal ceremonial venue and ballroom.
The most important data
Around 1200
At the end of the 12th century, the Dukes of Zähringen founded the town of Burgdorf and had a representative residential castle built on the sandstone cliffs on the Emme in place of a high medieval fortress.
1218-1383
The Counts of Kyburg inherited the extinct Zähringer family, moved into their seat of power in Burgdorf and expanded the palace complex and town. In 1383 the County of Burgdorf had to sell it to Bern.
1384-1798
The up-and-coming city republic of Bern installs a Bernese mayor on the castle. In the 15th to 18th centuries, the state of Bern made structural changes to the palace complex. In this epoch z. For example, the gate tower was rebuilt, the large Zähringian hall was subdivided and the residential, administrative and commercial buildings were adapted to the needs of the time.
1800-1804
After the fall of the Old Confederation in 1798, the castle stood empty, so that the educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi was able to run school institutes at Burgdorf Castle and develop his literary activities during the Helvetic era.
1804 – 2012
After the return to the old order, the canton of Bern used the castle for administrative purposes. In the second half of the 20th century, the chateau housed the governor's office, court and regional prison. 1886 The Burgdorf Knights' Hall Association opens a historical regional museum in the castle and steadily expands its collection of objects of cultural and historical interest
2000
The Helvetic Gold Museum is set up in the defense tower, the first institution of its kind in Switzerland.
2001
The Museum of Ethnology in Burgdorf, which has existed since 1909, moves into new exhibition rooms in the castle.
2012
The cantonal administration moves out of the castle as a result of the cantonal administrative reform.
2017
The conversion into an open castle with a museum, youth hostel, restaurant and wedding room begins.
2020
Reopening of Burgdorf Castle as a "castle for everyone".
Text: Castle Burgdorf
schloss-burgdorf.ch/de/schloss/geschichte

The homepage schloss-burgdorf.ch/de provides all the necessary information on the various areas such as history, museum, youth hostel, restaurant, etc.
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