Switzerland · Restored
Spiez Castle
Spiez Castle is a medieval castle in the municipality of Spiez in the Swiss canton of Bern and is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. Its core is a massive square stone keep from around 1200 with later residential wings and a Baroque "New Castle" added in the 17th–18th centuries. The complex includes terraces, gardens and an adjacent church and today is used for public events and exhibitions.
First raised
1200
Its prime
1750
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1750
The shape it held in its prime.
A massive square stone keep with very thick lower walls rises above a cluster of lower, white-plastered residential wings with green shutters and steep red-brown tiled roofs. The keep is capped by a high hipped tile roof; nearby are two slender conical-roofed turrets. A low stone curtain wall and terrace run toward the lake, with an adjacent tall church spire set slightly apart. The castle sits directly above a broad, calm lake with village houses on the opposite shore.
Its story
The story of Spiez Castle.
Spiez Castle's core is a massive square stone keep raised around 1200 in the Bernese municipality of Spiez, with a residence wing added to its north about a century later. During the second half of the 13th century tournaments were held around the castle — the visiting knights carved graffiti into the plaster of the main chimney.
The murder of King Albert I of Habsburg at Windisch in 1308 changed the castle's fortunes: in retaliation the Habsburgs withdrew half the Spiez fief from Thüring von Brandis and granted the whole to Johannes von Strättligen, who in 1338 sold castle, town, church and surrounding villages to Johann II von Bubenberg, Schultheiss of Bern. The Bubenbergs held Spiez until their extinction in 1506; Ludwig von Diesbach owned it for ten years before Ludwig von Erlach acquired the castle and its lands.
The von Erlach family ruled the town and villages until the French invasion of 1798, and kept ownership of the castle itself until 1875, after which it passed through several owners before a foundation bought the castle and its associated church. With its Baroque "New Castle" of the 17th–18th centuries, terraces, gardens and adjacent church, Spiez is a Swiss heritage site of national significance, used today for public events and exhibitions.
Step inside
9 places to explore in 1750.
The record describes 9 distinct spots at Spiez Castle — including 2 interiors: great hall (interior), adjacent castle church and spire. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Spiez Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1750 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Spiez Castle.
The families that held Spiez Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Strättligen
Johannes von Strättligen was granted the whole Spiez fief by the Habsburgs after 1308; he sold castle and town in 1338.
Bubenberg
Bought by Johann II von Bubenberg, Schultheiss of Bern, in 1338; held until the family's extinction in 1506.
Diesbach
Acquired by Ludwig von Diesbach in 1506 and held for ten years.
Erlach
The von Erlach family acquired Spiez around 1516, ruled the town until 1798 and owned the castle until 1875.
