| Wartenstein Castle | |
|---|---|
| Lauperswil | |
 Ruins of the main tower of Wartenstein | |
  Wartenstein Castle  Wartenstein Castle | |
| Coordinates | 46°58′16″N7°43′57″E / 46.97122°N 7.73256°E |
| Type | Hill castle |
| Code | CH |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th Century |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Minor nobility |
Wartenstein Castle is a castle, now in ruins, located in the municipality of Lauperswil in the Canton of Bern of Switzerland.
The area around Lauperswil and Rüderswil was originally part of the Freiherrschaft of Signau. By the 12th century it was controlled by the lords of Ruoderswilare, who ruled out of a castle south-west of Rüderswil. By the 13th century this castle was replaced by the new Wartenstein Castle at Lauperswil. It is unknown when this castle was first built, but by 1228 the knight Swaro von Wartenstein lived there. His descendant, Heinrich Swaro, sold the castle in 1284 to Trub monastery, but received the castle back as a fief from the monastery. [1]
By 1288, the castle was owned by Werner von Schweinsberg. The Schweinsberg family also owned land and Attinghausen Castle in the Canton of Uri. Werner's son was the famous Uri Landammann Werner von Attinghausen who signed an early treaty and led Uri during the early years of the Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy. [2] [3] However, the castle at Wartenstein remained with the Schweinsberg family.
During the Burgdorferkrieg, in 1383, Bernese troops captured and burned the castle. In 1415 the last male heir, Thüring von Schweinsberg, died, leaving the ruins of the castle to his son in law Ulrich von Balmoos. In 1493, the Basel Junker Wilhelm Hug von Sulz inherited the ruins from his grandchildren. He built a country manor house in the valley three years later. The castle ruins continued to change hands throughout the following centuries. The Herrschaft of Wartenstein was dissolved and Lauperswil village became part of the Vogtei of Trachselwald. [1]
According to local legend, during the Bernese siege, the last lord of the castle ordered all his treasure thrown down the well. He and his daughter then attempted to flee the castle, but their horse slipped on the narrow trail and they both and the horse fell to their deaths in the valley below. [1]
Drawings from the 19th century show that the main tower was mostly intact at that time, though portions have now collapsed. In 1965 the remaining walls of the inner castle were excavated and repaired.
The heavily weathered castle ruins are located on a wooded hill above the village of Lauperswil. It is about 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) north-west of the village section of Zollbrück along the Rüderswil road. A steep, about 20 minute, marked trail begins in the hamlet of Blindenbach and leads to the ruins. [1]
The castle was built on a narrow ridge above the village, on three hand carved terraces. The northern terrace may have contained a bailey but that is uncertain. The southern terrace held the main castle with a tower, courtyard and great hall. On the east slope near the castle there are still traces of a building as well as the castle well. [1]
The canton of Bern or Berne is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. Its capital city, Bern, is also the de facto capital of Switzerland. The bear is the heraldic symbol of the canton, displayed on a red-yellow background.
The Reuss is a river in Switzerland. With a length of 164 kilometres (102 mi) and a drainage basin of 3,426 square kilometres (1,323 sq mi), it is the fourth largest river in Switzerland. The upper Reuss forms the main valley of the canton of Uri. The course of the lower Reuss runs from Lake Lucerne to the confluence with the Aare at Brugg and Windisch.
Rüderswil is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Marmels Castle German: Burg Marmels is a ruined castle in the municipality of Marmorera in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
The Rudenz Castle is a fortified tower in Flüelen, a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.
Attinghausen Castle is a ruined medieval castle in the municipality of Attinghausen in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Schweinsberg Castle or Schweinsberghaus is a fortified house in the municipality of Attinghausen in the canton of Uri in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Greifenstein Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Filisur of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is included on the register of the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance.
Oberhofen Castle is a castle in the municipality of Oberhofen of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Ringgenberg Castle is a castle in the municipality of Ringgenberg of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Interlaken Monastery was a convent of the Augustinian Canons Regular from about 1133 until 1528 at Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Erguel Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Sonvilier in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is the best preserved castle ruin in the French-speaking Bernese Jura.
The ruins of Grünenberg Castle, Schnabelburg Castle and Langenstein Castle are a complex of three interconnected castles on a hill above the municipality of Melchnau in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The three castles formed the center of power of the Barons of Grünenberg in the Oberaargau region during the High Middle Ages.
Altenburg Castle is a castle in the village of Altenburg bei Brugg in the municipality of Brugg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The castle and the Altenburg Roman ruins, which are integrated into it, are classified as Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Auenstein Castle is a castle in the municipality of Auenstein in the Swiss canton of Aargau.
Rudenz Castle is a ruined castle atop a hill in the municipality of Giswil in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. The castle and surroundings are a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Heinzenberg Castle German: Burg Heinzenberg is a ruined castle in the municipality of Cazis in the Viamala Region of the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Innerjuvalt Castle is a castle in the municipality of Rothenbrunnen of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Guardaval Castle is a ruined castle in the municipality of Madulain of the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
