Old Castle Bümpliz
Old Castle Bümpliz is a historic castle complex in Bümpliz, a district of Bern, Switzerland.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Old Castle Bümpliz, known in German as Altes Schloss Bümpliz, is a historic castle complex in Bümpliz-Oberbottigen, within the city of Bern in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It is a heritage site rather than a conventional commercial brand, although the restored complex has supported hospitality, community, archival and public functions over time. The site originated as a Burgundian royal estate. A first fortified settlement was probably established around 900, consisting of a circular wooden enclosure and timber buildings. The estate is documented around 1010 in connection with King Rudolf III of Burgundy. By the mid-thirteenth century, a substantial round stone tower had been erected at the center of the site. Its unusual form may reflect Savoyard political influence in the region, although the precise reason for its construction is not established. The tower was later demolished, and its former position is marked on the floor of the modern restaurant terrace. During the late thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the site came under growing Bernese influence. Around 1470, Bümpliz and its castle entered the holdings of the Bernese patrician Erlach family. The Erlachs transformed the complex from a primarily defensive installation into a more representative administrative and residential property. Their work included the surviving square gatehouse, additional residential wings, defensive walls and other structures. A north-western wing was added around 1630. The Old Castle declined in importance after the construction of the New Castle in the eighteenth century. Beginning in 1742, substantial parts of the older complex were demolished, rebuilt or adapted. The moat was filled, the original entrance was closed, and sections of the site were converted into agricultural and domestic spaces. In the nineteenth century, the buildings served successively as a private psychiatric sanatorium and a boys' boarding school. Later, the Old Castle was divided into rental apartments. In 1919, the Enz family sold the castle to the Gemeinnützige Genossenschaft Altes Schloss Bümpliz, a civic society established to preserve the property. The cooperative repaired the interiors and used the castle for social purposes, including an inexpensive food service, a lounge and a library for unemployed residents during the Great Depression. The complex later housed an alcohol-free restaurant and a kindergarten. Electricity was installed in 1925. The City of Bern acquired the castle in 1954. Archaeological investigations in 1966 and 1970 substantially increased understanding of the site's long history, but the standing buildings continued to deteriorate. A fire on 19 November 1976 destroyed the roof. The complex was reconstructed in 1979 and 1980, including the gate, part of the moat, a new drawbridge, historically informed windows and a rebuilt roof. The north-west wing was reconstructed, while the north-east wing was recreated using concrete and glass. The restored complex incorporated a restaurant, the Bümpliz village archives, meeting rooms and offices. Today, Old Castle Bümpliz functions primarily as a historic and civic landmark in Bern. Its identity is tied to conservation, local history and community use rather than to a packaged consumer offering or an independently traded company.
History
The earliest known phase of Old Castle Bümpliz was a Burgundian royal estate established around 900. The first documentary reference dates to approximately 1010, when King Rudolf III of Burgundy associated the estate with his father. The original settlement appears to have been a timber enclosure with wooden buildings rather than the stone castle visible today. Between roughly 1250 and 1270, a round stone tower was built at the center of the site. Its form was unusual in the Bernese region and may have expressed Savoyard authority, since Peter II of Savoy held power over Bern during part of this period. The tower probably stood between ten and fifteen metres high, with a diameter of approximately 9.3 metres and walls about two metres thick. It was later demolished. The timber perimeter was replaced by stone defenses, including a half-round tower, but the central tower did not survive. As Bern expanded politically in the late thirteenth century, the castle became associated with Bernese noble families. The most important medieval transition came in 1470, when Bümpliz and the castle became possessions of the Erlach family. The Erlachs rebuilt the site as a residential and administrative complex. A square gatehouse was constructed, the south-western wall was raised, and new residential spaces were added. A half-round structure known as the Abortturm connected parts of the complex and contained toilets and access stairs. Further changes included the expansion of the north-eastern wing and the construction of the north-western wing around 1630. The castle's defensive and residential role diminished in the eighteenth century. In 1742, Daniel Tschiffely commissioned Albrecht Stürler to build the New Castle nearby. The older complex was partly dismantled and adapted during this project. Several wings and towers disappeared, the moat was drained and filled, the gate was blocked, and the courtyard was converted into a garden and animal enclosure. Parts of the north-western wing survived, while the north-eastern section was adapted as a barn. In 1839, Johann Friedrich Albrecht Tribolet acquired the Old and New Castles and converted them into a private psychiatric sanatorium. The New Castle housed calmer patients, while the Old Castle was used for patients described at the time as violent or noisy. Tribolet later became director of the psychiatric Klinik Waldau. In 1849, Jakob Allemann purchased the property and established a boys' boarding school known as the Löffelschlyffi. The school closed after the economic depression of 1882. Ownership then returned to Emilie Enz-Allemann, who reacquired both castles two years later, sold the New Castle and converted the Old Castle into rental housing. After her death in 1897, the property passed to Hermann and Anna Enz. In 1919, they sold it to the Gemeinnützige Genossenschaft Altes Schloss Bümpliz, a preservation-oriented cooperative. The cooperative modernized the interior and gave the complex a social role. During the Great Depression it offered affordable food, a lounge and a library to unemployed local residents. It subsequently operated an alcohol-free restaurant and accommodated a kindergarten. Electrical wiring was installed in 1925. The City of Bern bought the Old Castle in 1954 for approximately 80,000 Swiss francs. Archaeological work in 1966 and 1970 uncovered numerous artifacts and clarified the site's development. Despite this research, the standing structures deteriorated, and a major fire on 19 November 1976 destroyed the roof. A major reconstruction took place in 1979 and 1980. The entrance through the gatehouse was reopened, part of the moat was excavated, and a drawbridge was installed. The roof was rebuilt in a form intended to remain close to its historic appearance, and the windows were reconstructed in a Baroque style. The north-western wing was rebuilt, while the north-eastern wing was recreated in concrete and glass. The restored complex became a mixed-use public site with a restaurant, the Bümpliz village archives, meeting rooms and offices. It remains a historic landmark and community facility within Bern.
- 1980
Reconstruction completed
[1]The rebuilt complex reopened with restored historic elements and new spaces for a restaurant, archives, meetings and offices.
- 1976
Roof destroyed by fire
[1]A fire on 19 November destroyed the castle roof.
- 1966
Archaeological excavation begins
[1]An excavation uncovered numerous artifacts and prompted further archaeological investigation.
- 1954
Acquisition by the City of Bern
[1]The City of Bern purchased the Old Castle from the preservation cooperative.
- 1925
Electricity installed
[1]The castle was connected to electrical power.
- 1919
Transfer to a preservation cooperative
[1]Hermann and Anna Enz sold the castle to the Gemeinnützige Genossenschaft Altes Schloss Bümpliz, which undertook preservation and community-oriented uses.
- 1849
Conversion into a boys' boarding school
[1]Jakob Allemann converted the property into the Löffelschlyffi boarding school.
- 1839
Conversion into a private sanatorium
[1]Johann Friedrich Albrecht Tribolet acquired the castles and used them as a private psychiatric sanatorium.
- 1742
Construction of the New Castle begins
[1]Daniel Tschiffely commissioned Albrecht Stürler to build the New Castle, prompting major alterations and partial demolition of the Old Castle.
- 1630
North-western wing added
[1]The north-western residential wing was constructed beside the gatehouse.
Products and positioning
A locally significant heritage and civic venue combining medieval and early-modern architecture with hospitality, archival, meeting and community functions.
Heritage site
Restored castle complex
The principal offering is the preserved and reconstructed historic complex, including the gatehouse, surviving and recreated wings, courtyard, partial moat and drawbridge. Its value lies in architectural heritage and the interpretation of Bümpliz's Burgundian, Bernese and later civic history.
Hospitality · 1980
Restaurant facilities
Following the late twentieth-century reconstruction, restaurant space was established in the north-eastern wing, gatehouse and courtyard. The hospitality use continues a longer tradition of community food service associated with the preservation cooperative, although specific current operating arrangements are not identified in the reference material.
Archives and cultural services · 1980
Bümpliz village archives
The restored castle accommodates the Bümpliz village archives, giving the site an ongoing local-history and civic documentation role alongside its architectural significance.
Marketing campaigns
- 1930Depression-era community services
Bümpliz
During the Great Depression, the castle was used to provide inexpensive food, a lounge and a library for unemployed local residents.
Outcome. The site developed a sustained community-service role that later included an alcohol-free restaurant and a kindergarten.
- 1919Preservation cooperative initiative
Bümpliz · Bern
The Gemeinnützige Genossenschaft Altes Schloss Bümpliz was established to acquire, preserve and maintain the historic property.
Outcome. The cooperative retained the castle until its sale to the City of Bern in 1954 and introduced several community uses.
Brand decisions
1979
Comprehensive reconstruction after the fireStrategyBackground
The 1976 fire destroyed the roof, while years of inadequate maintenance had left the buildings in poor condition.
Action taken
The City of Bern and project partners rebuilt the complex, restored the gatehouse entrance and moat features, reconstructed the roof and windows, and adapted the site for public and hospitality functions.
Aftermath
The reconstruction was completed in 1979 and 1980 and returned the castle to active civic use.
Reconstruction cost. Approximately CHF 3 million (1979-1980)
Recent events
- 1980
Restoration reopens Old Castle Bümpliz for civic and hospitality use[1]
Other
A reconstruction carried out in 1979 and 1980 restored the gatehouse entrance, reconstructed the roof, excavated part of the moat and created space for a restaurant, archives, meetings and offices.
- 1976
Fire destroys the castle roof[1]
Other
A fire on 19 November destroyed the roof of the Old Castle and contributed to the decision to undertake a comprehensive reconstruction.
- 1970
Archaeological investigations deepen understanding of Old Castle Bümpliz[1]
Other
A ten-week archaeological investigation led by Werner Meyer and a twelve-person team examined the castle grounds after an earlier excavation had revealed a large quantity of artifacts.
Sources1 sources
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