To be privately owned
CastleAarwangen
Aarwangen Castle
On the southern bank of the Aare River in Switzerland, Aarwangen Castle stands, once conceived as a strong bridge watchtower. Its history is linked to the control of important river crossings.
History+
The origins of Aarwangen Castle date back to the 13th century, when the Lords of Aarwangen, initially vassals of the Zähringer and later the Kyburgs, erected the first castle complex. Its keep, a bulwark rising over 30 meters, dates from this early period. Around 1300, the castle took on the function of protecting a bridge and securing a customs station. In the mid-14th century, sovereignty passed to the nobles of Grünenberg. In the early 15th century, the city of Bern acquired sovereign rights over the area, and in 1432, it purchased Aarwangen Castle. It became the seat of a bailiwick, which encompassed today's Aarwangen district. The castle underwent alterations and extensions, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the bailiff's building was constructed. In the 17th century, a stair tower and a Renaissance portal were added, and in 1624/25, the main tower received a Baroque crowning. During the upheaval of 1798, the castle was severely damaged but later restored and served as the seat of the district and judicial office. About 20 years ago, it was renovated.
Location+
Aarwangen Castle is located in the municipality of Aarwangen in the canton of Bern, in the Oberaargau region of Switzerland. It stands at an elevation of approximately 421 meters above sea level.
On site+
Today, Aarwangen Castle is privately owned. It was restored about 20 years ago and presents itself as a well-preserved structure.
Take Mobile History with you
You are reading this text for free. Premium adds what matters on the road: descriptions read aloud, sites found through your camera, whole regions taken offline.
- Every description, including the ~17,700 Premium sites
- Audio guide: have descriptions read to you on location
- AR finder: see sites through your camera, with distance and bearing
- Unlimited saved sites
14 days free, then from €2.99 a month. Cancel anytime.
Source: swisscastles.ch
Text and/or image for this object come from the linked site and are used with the permission of its operators; the linked page remains the copyright of its authors. The legacy catalogue kept text source and image source in a single field, so which part came from there can no longer be told apart entry by entry.
Location: 47.2456, 7.7635