Unspunnen Castle Ruin

Unspunnen Castle Ruin is a hilltop ruin of about 1200 above Wilderswil, roughly 4 kilometres south of Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. The castle was built by the lords of Unspunnen and fell into decay after the Middle Ages, leaving crumbling walls and tower remains within woodland. It is best known through the Unspunnen Festival, first held in 1805 as a reconciliation event between town and country, with competitions in stone-throwing, wrestling, yodelling and flag-throwing. The Unspunnen Stone used in the contest weighs 83.5 kilograms and is still thrown at the festival, which is now held on the Höhematte in Interlaken. Visitors reach the ruin by a forest path from Wilderswil, starting near Plattenweg, and the walk takes about 25 minutes uphill from the station. At the top, the walls and open ground provide a quiet picnic site, with views back across the Bödeli plain, the Aare, Interlaken and the lakes, and the Jungfrau region beyond. A visit takes one to one and a half hours including the climb and descent. The ruin is open daily during daylight hours and has no admission fee. Information boards explain the history. The trail is a natural path with roots and loose stones, so sturdy shoes are advisable, and it can be muddy after rain. Early morning and late afternoon are best, with cooler temperatures and softer light, and the area is rarely crowded even in summer. Visitors reach Wilderswil by train from Interlaken Ost in 5 minutes, and the same station serves the Schynige Platte railway, so the walk combines easily with a mountain trip. Photographers will find the best angles from the castle walls looking north.