Hünegg Castle (German: Schloss Hünegg) is a castle in the municipality of Hilterfingen of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.[1]

Hünegg Castle
Schloss Hünegg
Hünegg Castle is located in Switzerland
Hünegg Castle
Location within Switzerland
General information
LocationHilterfingen
Coordinates46°44′16″N 7°39′18″E / 46.737794°N 7.654931°E / 46.737794; 7.654931
Completed1863
Hünegg Castle above Lake Thun.

History edit

Hünegg Castle was built between 1861 and 1863 for the Prussian Baron Albert Emil Otto von Parpart. However, he was only able to enjoy the castle for a few years, since he died in 1869.[2] By 1883, it had passed to his nephew, who sold off the art collection and then in 1893 sold the castle to the Berlin commercial judge Karl Lehmann.[3][nb 1] He owned the property for only six years before it was acquired by Gustav Lemke-Schuckert, an architect from Wiesbaden, who renovated the interior in the Art Nouveau style. At about the beginning of the Second World War, the castle was sold to Oscar Haag from Küsnacht, who in 1958 sold it to the Canton of Bern. Today it houses the Renaissance Revival and Art Nouveau Museum.[4]

The interior has been meticulously preserved or recreated to give the impression that the 19th century owners have just left.

Special exhibitions edit

The castle and its park are available for hire for temporary exhibitions. As an example, a Mountain railways special exhibition took place in 2012, 2013, and 2014, from May to October.

Mountain railways special exhibition edit

The Swiss Mountain Railways Special Exhibition was mounted between May and October 2012, and again between May and October 2013. It was scheduled to return again in 2014.[5]

Mounted by Robert Ganz and Roger Rieker, the special exhibitions were about the early pioneer work of the Swiss mountain railways,[6] with a budget of 95,000 Swiss Francs,[7] the exhibition included loaned objects from 130 individuals and 30 companies, to provide visitors with an overview of rack- and adhesion railways, funicular railways, aerial cableways, ski lifts, and other mountain transportation mechanisms. The loaned objects included several original objects, approximately 200 featured detailed model reproductions, over 500 photographs, over 100 documents, and ten video presentations.

Bibliography edit

  • Robert Ganz, Roger Rieker: Bau und Betrieb Schweizerischer Bergbahnen, Historischer Querschnitt, Sonderausstellung im Schloss Hünegg Hilterfingen, authors publisher, Jost Druck Hünibach 2013

Notes edit

  1. ^ Swisscastles.ch has the date sold to Lehmann as 1873, but the municipal website says 1893. Every source agrees on 6 years between Lehmann and Lemke and the municipal website indicates that Lemke bought it in 1899 while the museum site says renovations began in 1900. This makes the 1873 date appear incorrect.

References edit

  1. ^ "Kantonsliste A-Objekte". KGS Inventar (in German). Federal Office of Civil Protection. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Schloss Hünegg website" (in German). Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Official municipal website - History (in German) accessed 26 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Swiss Castles.ch Bern: Schloss Hunegg" (in German). Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Swiss Radio and Television (Swissinfo), broadcasting of 2013, 25 Mai: Schloss Hünegg: Warum hat der Baron eine Seilbahn im Salon? Retrieved 2014, January 17 (in German)
  6. ^ Nötzi, Urs (November 2013). "Robert Ganz und seine Leidenschaft...". Eisenbahn Amateur: 558.
  7. ^ www.hilterfingen.ch Municipality Hilterfingen, Thunter Tagblatt from February 14, 2012 newspaper article Beitrag für Ausstellung Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2014, January 24 (in German)

External links edit

46°44′16″N 7°39′18″E / 46.737794°N 7.654931°E / 46.737794; 7.654931