Oberberg Castle (Ruin) (Gossau)

Oberberg Castle is a castle above Gossau in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. It stands on a hill and offers views of the Alpstein up to Säntis. In addition, the Fürstenland and the city of St. Gallen are visible.

Oberberg was first mentioned in a document in 1262, specifically under Cuonrad de Obernberg. In 1380, Oberberg came into the possession of the nobles of Andwil. Junker Albrecht von Andwil became the owner.

During the Appenzell War, the complex was conquered and burned down in July 1406 by soldiers from St. Gallen and Feldkirch. Rebuilding followed in the same year under Walter von Andwil. Hans von Andwil the Younger sold the castle in 1452 to the Heiliggeist Hospital of the city of St. Gallen.

In 1490, as a result of the Rorschach Monastery Break, the castle came into the possession of the Abbey of St. Gallen and became the seat of the abbatial bailiffs. The St. Gallen abbot Diethelm Blarer von Wartensee had the castle rebuilt and expanded in 1545. The residential area was built with massive stone construction and received its current appearance.

During the Zwölferkrieg in 1712, Oberberg was occupied for three months by the armies of Bern and Zurich.

Between 1798 and 1812, the castle was owned by the canton. On August 27, 1812, it was auctioned to Johannes Merz from Herisau and remained in private ownership until 1924. Due to lack of maintenance, the building increasingly fell into disrepair.

The current castle chapel was built in 1864 in the former castle dungeon. Since 1877, a restaurant has been operated at the castle.

In 1927, Oberberg came under federal monument protection and was first renovated in 1954/55. On October 27, 1955, the castle burned down. The reconstruction of the complex lasted three years until it could finally be reopened on June 1, 1958. The official opening took place fourteen days later.