Oberhofen Castle

The romantic Oberhofen Castle site with its medieval keep is located directly on the shores of Lake Thun. The extensive park with the castle gardens is considered one of the most beautiful in the Alpine region. The castle also houses a museum which will make you want to explore the various rooms and follow in the footsteps of the former inhabitants.

Eight centuries of magic 

Oberhofen Castle is an icon on the shores of Lake Thun and is justly famous. The park belonging to the castle complex stretches along the lakeshore and beautifully frames the idyllic series of buildings. Since 2013, the castle has offered a restaurant with a lakeside terrace perfect for relaxing and enjoying quality time.  

The imposing keep of the former Oberhofen Castle was constructed around 1200 and came into the possession of the Habsburgs in the 14th century. After the Battle of Sempach in 1386, the castle became the property of Berne, and from 1421 belonged to the Bernese patrician family von Scharnachthal. When the von Scharnachthal line died out, four brothers of the von Erlach family inherited the castle on the lake. It eventually became the possession of mayor Franz Ludwig von Erlach (1575-1651), already the owner of the castles of Spiez and Schadau. After his death, the Bernese established the bailiwick of Oberhofen, administered until 1798 by 27 different bailiffs. In 1844, the Neuchâtel and Prussian Count Albert Pourtalès acquired the site and had it converted in keeping with its history into a summer residence for his family. At the end of the 19th century, his daughter Helene Harrach-Pourtalès inherited the castle. 

The castle becomes a museum 

The castle’s last private owner was American lawyer William Maul Measey. He bought the castle in 1925 and lived there until the early 1950s. In June 1954, Schloss Oberhofen became a branch of the Bern Museum of History and was opened to the public. Since 2009, it has belonged to the Oberhofen Castle Foundation. 

In the footsteps of former residents  

A tour of the Château Museum today also means a journey through the history of the people who used to live here. Focusing on the 19th century, the rooms offer a glimpse into the life of the Count's family, lived under one roof with the servants. 
At the very top of the tower is the “oriental smoking room” with its incredible views, commissioned by Count Albert Pourtalès. The interior of the ground-floor dining room also dates back to the Count's time. Similarly, the chapel with its 15th-century frescoes is well worth a visit.  

Exhibitions 

Along with and the still authentically furnished rooms and the castle’s history, the exhibitions feature museographic staged events based on the family of the Counts of Pourtalès and Harrach. Given that the life of a noble family would have been impossible without employees, the tour allows visitors to experience the château from a dual perspective. On the one hand, from the point of view of the masters and mistresses, and on the other, from that of the domestic staff, to whom the “At Your Service” exhibition is dedicated. The castle kitchen gives an insight into how a manorial kitchen would have functioned at the end of the 19th century.  

Since 2024, rooms have been prepared for new exhibitions and are gradually being reopened to the public. Still focusing on the 19th century, themes such as children, gender roles, fashion and tourism are addressed.  

The castle as a meeting place 

A rich program of events, with guided tours, theme days, concerts, readings and an open-air cinema, will appeal to a broad range of visitors. Families are particularly welcome! Special offers such as the “Mouse Trail” and the “Knight's Trail” (in collaboration with Thun and Spiez castles) are available for young visitors. Particularly attractive is the castle ghost, lying snoring, waiting to be wakened! There is also a playground and a reading corner in the park. For parties and other events, rooms on the first floor are available for hire.