Clan Rising
Burgdorf Castle today

Switzerland · Still standing

Burgdorf Castle

Burgdorf Castle (Schloss Burgdorf) is a medieval hilltop castle in Burgdorf, canton of Bern, Switzerland, and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The complex developed from the 11th–13th centuries under the Zähringen and Kyburg dynasties and later served as the seat of Bernese administrators; today it houses a museum and public functions.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Play Castle Siege ↓

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1200

Its prime

1729

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1729

What Burgdorf Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a wooded limestone hill above the town and the Emme river, the castle presents a cluster of pale stone buildings and high, steep red-brown tiled roofs. A tall square donjon with a steep hipped roof and a small stair-turret dominates the silhouette; long curtain walls with rectangular and half-round towers link the ranges. The eastern wing added in 1729 forms a lower, plastered block with green-painted shutters, and the main approach rises from the market below to a rebuilt stone gatehouse.

Its story

The story of Burgdorf Castle.

A castle at Burgdorf was first mentioned in 1080 as castellum Bertoldi ducis, built on the left bank of the Emme by either the kings of Burgundy or the Dukes of Zähringen, who held the land after 1080. The Zähringens inherited the Rheinfelden lands in 1090, and in 1127 Duke Konrad received the Rectorate over much of Burgundy from Emperor Lothair III; under Duke Berthold V the castle was expanded in 1200.

After the extinction of the Zähringen line, Burgdorf passed to the Counts of Kyburg, under whom the castle was the capital of the county and the counts served as mayors of the town. When the Kyburg line died out in 1264 the castle passed to Eberhard of Habsburg, married to Anna of Kyburg, who became Count of Neu-Kyburg; in 1382 Count Rudolf II of Neu-Kyburg launched a raid against Solothurn to try to force the city to forgive his debts.

The castle later served as the seat of Bernese administrators. Today it is a Swiss heritage site of national significance, housing a museum and public functions.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1729.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Burgdorf Castle, including 4 interiors: base of the donjon and stair tower, knight's hall (museum hall), eastern wing (apartments and granary) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the town and marketGatehouse entranceInner courtyardBase of the donjon and stair towerKnight's Hall (museum hall)Northern curtain wall and half-round towersEastern wing (apartments and granary)Western hall and range

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Burgdorf Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1729, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →

Castle Siege

Play Castle Siege at Burgdorf Castle.

A strategy game played on Burgdorf Castle’s real ground plan: the same surveyed walls shown in the archive below. Post your finite garrison on the battlements between assaults, then hold out as rams, siege towers, trebuchets and sappers arrive in ever-worse waves.

Sign in free to see the garrison muster. One castle costs 150 Clan Coins and is yours forever.

Sign in to take command →

See every castle’s leaderboard →

Whose castle

Clans who held Burgdorf Castle.

The families that held Burgdorf Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Zähringen

    The Dukes of Zähringen held Burgdorf from 1080 until the extinction of their line; Duke Berthold V expanded the castle in 1200.

  • Kyburg

    The Counts of Kyburg held Burgdorf as the capital of their county until the line died out in 1264.

  • Habsburg

    Passed in 1264 to Eberhard of Habsburg, Count of Neu-Kyburg, through his marriage to Anna of Kyburg; his Neu-Kyburg line held it thereafter.

From the archive

Burgdorf Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Burgdorf: Schlosstor, Burgdorf Castle

Burgdorf: Schlosstor

· State Archives of Baden-Württemberg (via Europeana)

CC BY

Burgdorf: Schlosstor, Burgdorf Castle

Burgdorf: Schlosstor

· State Archives of Baden-Württemberg (via Europeana)

CC BY

Burgdorf: Schloss, Burgdorf Castle

Burgdorf: Schloss

· State Archives of Baden-Württemberg (via Europeana)

CC BY

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Burgdorf Castle.

Stadion Wankdorf, SwitzerlandStadiumStadion Wankdorf16 km awayKindlifresserbrunnen, SwitzerlandFountainKindlifresserbrunnen18 km away

Questions about Burgdorf Castle

What is the history of Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle was developed from the 11th to the 13th centuries as a high medieval fortress and dynastic residence. It was first mentioned in 1080, and Duke Berthold V expanded it in 1200. The castle later passed from the Zähringens to the Kyburgs, was besieged in 1383, and became the seat of Bernese administrators after Bern acquired it in 1384.

What is inside Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle contains the Knight's Hall, the base of the donjon and stair tower, the eastern wing, and the western hall and range. The eastern wing contained apartments and a granary. The Palas includes a Romanesque Knight's Hall and a chapel with frescoes from around 1330, while the smaller chapel retains Gothic frescoes.

Why was Burgdorf Castle built, and what was it used for?

Burgdorf Castle was built as a high medieval fortress and a representative residence for the Zähringen dynasty. Its expanded complex included a gatehouse, walls, a tower, a donjon and halls. Under the Kyburgs it became the capital of their county, and it later served as an administrative seat, military hospital, school, government offices and museum.

Where is Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle is in Burgdorf, in the canton of Bern, above the Emme river. It stands on a wooded limestone hill above the town and the river. The castle is located in the municipality of Burgdorf.

When was Burgdorf Castle built?

Burgdorf Castle was expanded in 1200, during the main building phase of the early 13th century. A castle on the site was first mentioned in 1080, while the existing major complex developed through the 11th–13th centuries. The eastern wing was added in 1729.

Was Burgdorf Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Burgdorf Castle was besieged by a Bernese-Solothurn army in March 1383 after Count Rudolf II of Neu-Kyburg raided Solothurn. The siege lasted 45 days and was unsuccessful. The Neu-Kyburg counts nevertheless sold Burgdorf and its castles to Bern on 5 April 1384 in exchange for peace.

Which family or clan held Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle was held by the Dukes of Zähringen from 1080 until their line became extinct, and Duke Berthold V expanded it in 1200. The Counts of Kyburg then held it as the capital of their county until their line died out in 1264. It passed to Eberhard of Habsburg, Count of Neu-Kyburg, through his marriage to Anna of Kyburg.

What did Burgdorf Castle look like in its prime?

Burgdorf Castle presents pale stone buildings with high, steep red-brown tiled roofs on a wooded limestone hill. A tall square donjon with a steep hipped roof and small stair-turret dominates the silhouette. Curtain walls with rectangular and half-round towers link the ranges, while the 1729 eastern wing forms a lower plastered block with green-painted shutters.

Is Burgdorf Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Burgdorf Castle is still standing and is described as intact. Its main building arrangement from around 1200 has survived, including the square donjon, Palas, south and north wings, curtain walls and northern half-round towers. Later alterations include the 1559 gatehouse, the 1580 stair tower and the eastern wing added in 1729.

Who built Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle was commissioned by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, who expanded it in 1200. No architect is identified in the supplied material. The expansion created a tower, donjon and hall connected to the earlier gatehouse and wall.

Can you visit Burgdorf Castle?

Burgdorf Castle can be visited as a museum and public cultural site. The Castle Museum opened in the Knight's Hall in 1886, and the principal rooms and towers have been accessible to the public since 1885. Since 2020, the complex has also housed a youth hostel and restaurant.

More castles of Switzerland

Trachselwald Castle, SwitzerlandTrachselwald CastleVufflens Castle, SwitzerlandVufflens CastleWerdenberg Castle, SwitzerlandWerdenberg Castle
All castles of Switzerland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.