Ruins of Vorbourg Castle

This medieval castle was built in the 11th century by the knights of Telsperg, overlooking the Birse valley and offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. You can also admire the chapel of Notre-Dame du Vorbourg, which dates from the 14th century and which is still a very popular place of pilgrimage. The hike to the ruins is about 4 km and takes about an hour and a half.

According to the documents of the time, they were called the lower castle and the upper castle of Telsperg. It was only well after their abandonment that they took the name of Vorbourg from the now-defunct hamlet. They were inhabited by the knights of Telsperg, a family of minor feudal nobility, who later took over various responsibilities on behalf of the Bishop of Basel. The first mention of a castle only appears in a document from 1234. But from 1131, several knights of Telsperg are cited, mainly as witnesses. Located on the southwest ridge of the Soyhères pass, two buildings rose 150 to 200 meters above the Birs to monitor the passage of travelers.