In Ringgenberg, cultural history and landscape offer distinct discoveries side by side. An archaeological trail in Ringgenberg-Goldswil connects the castle ruins with the church ruins and runs high above Lake Brienz. Other highlights include the Schlossweid village museum, the ruins of Schadenburg and Burgseeli. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you would like to focus more on historic buildings, walks or the nature reserve. These themes give your stay different focal points without requiring you to follow a fixed itinerary.
Discover the Castle Church and its history
Ringgenberg Castle Church brings together the ruins of a medieval castle belonging to the high nobility and a Reformed church from the Baroque period. The site thus combines two historical building phases in one place. Since 2008, visitors have been able to access the castle tower via stairs, a gallery and a viewing terrace. Check current accessibility before your visit. Felix Mendelssohn played the organ at the Castle Church in 1847—a specific musical connection to the history of the building.
Another cultural stop is the Schlossweid village museum. It is housed in a small farmhouse on the “Schlossweid” property in Ringgenberg. The museum’s name and precise location help distinguish this stop from the Castle Church and the ruins. This means Ringgenberg’s history is not limited to a single building: the church, archaeological trail and museum each offer a distinct perspective.
Ruins and trails
The ruins of Schadenburg are a rectangular stone building above the village of Ringgenberg, along the route between Ringgenberg and Niederried. From the road, it is a ten-minute walk through the forest to the ruins. Weather conditions may affect whether the path can be used.
The Ringgenberg Planet Trail is open year-round and easily accessible with a pushchair; weather conditions may affect actual accessibility. There is also an extensive network of hiking and walking trails in Ringgenberg and Goldswil. Both villages lie on a south-facing slope on Lake Brienz, and Ringgenberg and Goldswil also offer panoramic views. Ringgenberg and Goldswil are just a few minutes’ drive from Interlaken.
Burgseeli: nature and swimming season
Burgseeli is the centrepiece of the Burgseeli nature reserve in the municipality of Ringgenberg. The yellow flag iris is also a characteristic natural feature to look out for there: it is commonly found at Burgseeli and blooms in May and June. Swimming is possible from May to September, and the water temperature can reach up to 26 °C. The flowering period and swimming season overlap in May and June, but differ in length. If you are planning when to visit, you can weigh up the shorter flowering period against the longer swimming season.
These different interests can help guide your choice of accommodation in Ringgenberg: the Castle Church and ruins offer historical discoveries, the Planet Trail and walking paths offer opportunities to get active, and Burgseeli offers nature and seasonal swimming.
Discover more destinations: Goldswil, Axalp, Lauterbrunnen, Saxeten, Habkern, Brienz, Unterseen, Grindelwald.
See the main travel overview: Interlaken.
