Geristein Castle (Ruin) (Bolligen)

Geristein Castle (or Gerenstein) was a medieval castle from the 11th century and is located in the Swiss municipality of Bolligen in the canton of Bern.

The castle ruin is situated above Bolligen on a rocky ridge. It is easy to recognize, as a Savoyard round tower was built on the castle ruin at a later time. Between 1975 and 1976, the ruin was restored.

The castle was the ancestral seat of the Barons of Geristein. The castle was built as a wooden castle in the 11th century and was gradually built of stone over time. It served to protect and control the path between the city of Bern and Aargau. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Geristeins died out and the castle and lordship had various owners. In 1298, the castle, which at that time was owned by the Montenachs, was destroyed by the Bernese after the Battle of Dornbühl and was not rebuilt.