Schloss Oberhofen is located at the shore of beautiful Lake Thun. The castle dates back to the 13th century and has a rich history. Schloss Oberhofen offers you an interesting museum and a beautiful castle garden. The castle garden is supposed to be one of the most breathtaking gardens in the region. Time to tell you more about what to expect from castle Oberhofen and what to do!
What to expect from Schloss Oberhofen?
The Castle Oberhofen was built in the 13th century and was rebuilt in the mid 19th century in a more Romantic style. The castle serves as a museum since 1954. Some highlights of the museum include the servant quarters – restored and furnished bedrooms including secret doors – those secret doors lead to the dining room and library room. The smoking room is unique too, definitely check it out. The room is located at the top of the tower, which will definitely promise you spectacular views of Lake Thun.
The layout of Oberhofen castle
In short, the castle consists of several floors and rooms. Many people love the oriental smoking salon, which has been renovated lately and was opened again in 2012. Here you can experience a special ambience. On the second floor, there are the bedrooms of the servants, who served the aristocratic family living in the castle in the 19th century. A lovely exhibition shows the life of the servants in an interactive and informative way, we loved it.
When you stroll through the exhibition you get a better idea of how the Bernese upper class lived. The rooms are different, which is interesting. There are rooms furnished in Gothic style and even Baroque. The museum offers both English and German information during the exhibition.
How to get to Schloss Oberhofen?
The Oberhofen castle is located around 6-7 kilometres south of Thun. It is located on the eastern shores of the lake. You can arrive by boat too. The castle is next to the arriving place for the pleasure boats. There are busses driving often from Thun to the castle as well. The Schloss Oberhofen is located at Lake Thun, if you would like to know more about Lake Thun and what it has to offer, check the blog about Lake Thun here.
Is there a park at Schloss Oberhofen?
Yes, there is a fabulous large park at the castle Oberhofen. This park is considered one of the most beautiful parks in this region of the alps. Let’s inform you in more detail about the castle park. The park is a 2.5-hectare park, which was originally created by the owners around 1839-1840. It shows many fashions of the history of the garden arts. Beautiful exotic groves, vivid colours and there is a magical little tower with a view of the mountains, we found this so beautiful. You can take wonderful photographs in the garden!
The garden offers spectacular views of Lake Thun and the mountains. There is a small playground next to the entrance, there is an interactive game which is awesome for kids. Good to know, unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the castle or in the castle park. There is one exception, guide dogs. We recommend visiting the restaurant after your visit to the castle or the garden. A nice way to end your hopefully lovely visit.
The castle park has some different opening times:
- 4th April – 22nd May 9 am – 8 pm
- 23rd May – 31st July 9 am – 9 pm
- 1st August – 18th September 9 am – 8 pm
- 19th September – 30th October 9 am – 7 pm
- 31st October – 18nd December 9 am – 5 pm
Please check this link for up to date opening times of the museum, restaurant and garden.
Conclusion
Schloss Oberhofen definitely is a little gem. The castle offers so much history and has a lovely museum. Let’s not forget the magical garden next to the castle. This is definitely a big plus, strolling through the garden while enjoying the sound of birds, vivid colours and beautiful views can be so relaxing. We hope you will have a lovely visit to Castle Oberhofen. If you have any questions, feel free to leave your questions below.
