Unspunnen Castle

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The castle Unspunnen on the Bödeli between Lakes Thun and Brienz ( municipality Wilderswil ) was the scene of Unspunnenfestes of 1805, which celebrated the reconciliation between town and country at the end of the Helvetic Republic.

The castle was probably since the early 12th century as a round tower, probably built by one of the gentlemen of Rothenfluh, originally south of Unspunnen had a cave castle. The name Unspunnen probably goes back to a Celtic place names ussubonno. The fortress around the upper Palas probably goes back to Baron Burkhard von Unspunnen, who lived in the castle in the late 12th century. Burkhard said to have participated to 1191 in a failed uprising against the Zähringers. With his marriage to Burkhard's daughter Ita went to the castle of Rudolf II Wädenswil. In the 13th century the barons von Eschenbach came into their possession, then extended it several times.

Walter IV of Eschenbach Schnabelburg sold the castle along with other possessions in August 1306 the sons of Albrecht of Habsburg. From 1316, the castle was pledged to the Lords of White Castle. Out of anger against an increase in taxes in 1322 attracted the inhabitants of the Haslital against the castle, but the company was a failure, and 50 insurgents were imprisoned on Unspunnen and freed only after two years of Bernese troops.

1397 the castle came into the possession of the Bernese, they 1398 for 5000 guilders resold to the family of Scharnachthal which carried out major renovation work in 1425. From 1515 Bern was again Burgherrin and appointed a governor, but soon pulled him back and gave the castle to decay prey. The ruins were used as a quarry, and reached again until 1805 with the Unspunnenfest national celebrity.

In the 1880s, restorations and renovations took place. Maintenance positions in 1968/69, this change made ​​to reverse.