Blankenburg: Castle, Ceramics and Trails

Blankenburg combines the history of its castle and ceramics with trails for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can choose the focus of your trip based on which of these activities interests you.

Castle History and Pottery

Blankenburg Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1329. After the Battle of Sempach, Bern established a bailiff’s office in the castle in 1386 as the administrative seat of the Obersimmental district. The castle’s later history is also notable: after the castle burned down completely in 1767, the Tschachtlan was able to move into a new building in the Campagne style as early as 1770.

Today, the castle is an official venue for civil weddings and the formal conversion of registered partnerships into marriages. The main building is primarily intended for formal, museum, and cultural events, as well as serving as a meeting place. Public visits are to be made possible in accordance with established guidelines.

Another historical connection is the pottery workshop in Blankenburg. At first, it employed up to three journeymen and one apprentice. The workshop’s former lower house still stands at Hüsy-Stutz 6. Around 230 ceramic objects in museums and collections in Switzerland, Germany, and England are attributed to Abraham Marti’s production. Forty-six surviving ceramic objects are dated between 1749 and 1789, the period when Marti lived in Blankenburg. His ceramics are characterized by a coating of white slip and blue or polychrome brushwork beneath the glaze.

Hiking Trails with Different Highlights

The Castle Trail offers an option that includes Blankenburg Castle, with a walking time of about two hours. By contrast, the Obersimmental House Trail runs through the entire Obersimmental and offers views of traditional carpentry. The two trails therefore have different highlights: one is connected with the castle, while the other focuses on regional architecture.

The Scheidegg hike descends over alpine pastures and through forests, then follows mountain streams down to Blankenburg. From there, continue along Betelriedgasse to Blankenburg railway station. Trains stop there on request. This is important to bear in mind when planning: trains do not stop there automatically.

Route W2 also passes through the Spillgerte nature reserve, which includes Seebergsee lake. This gives you a choice of hikes that includes both a described descent to Blankenburg and a route through the protected area.

Mountain Biking and Cross-Country Skiing

The difficult B1 mountain bike tour, “Zweisimmen – Seebergsee – Uff de Flüene Trail – Zweisimmen,” is 27.4 kilometers long. On the descent, it leads mainly along various singletrack trails to Blankenburg. The section near Seebergsee lake lies within the Spillgerte nature reserve. The route is not signposted on the ground, so GPS navigation is required.

In winter, the Lenk–Zweisimmen cross-country ski trail offers another option: it reaches Blankenburg village by crossing an open field and is listed as 12 kilometers long. Conditions on the trail can vary from season to season. The mountain bike tour and ski trail therefore differ not only in activity, but also in their stated distances and seasonal relevance.

Playgrounds and Other Nature Highlights

The Schlegelholz / Blankenburg playground offers a medium-sized play area. It can be reached via Moosbachweg. After turning off the road from Zweisimmen toward Lenk, the route to the playground and fire pit is about two kilometers. The Püürt-Huus in Blankenburg also has a medium-sized play area, which includes a suspension bridge.

A broader nature highlight is Sparenmoos near Zweisimmen. In summer, this tranquil raised bog is ideal for hiking, biking, and wildlife watching. It adds a distinctly regional focus to the trails around Blankenburg without treating the different local routes as one and the same.

For the wider travel overview: Zweisimmen.