Thunstetten Castle

It was built between 1713 and 1715 by the Bernese master builder Abraham Jenner according to plans by the Parisian architect Joseph Abeille for Hieronymus von Erlach in the style of Versailles and consists of a single-story manor house over a mighty vaulted cellar with two two-story wing tracts. They form three sides of a courtyard, which is enclosed on the fourth side by a covered wall with an arched grille portal.

On the ceiling and the inner wall of the central ballroom, as well as on the ceiling of a side cabinet, there are paintings created in 1715 by Johann Brandenberg (1661-1729) from Zug, which mythologically exaggerate the warlike heroic deeds of Hieronymus von Erlach, his return to a peaceful country life, and the glory of his family.

In 1746, Hieronymus sold Thunstetten, then built Hindelbank Castle and the Erlacherhof in the city of Bern. After various owners, it came into the possession of the Le Grand family of doctors from Langenthal for about a hundred years, who sold it to the Thunstetten Castle Foundation in 1970.

Today, Thunstetten Castle hosts exhibitions and seminars, and is rented out for private parties.