Schloss Oberhofen

What Schloss Oberhofen does

Schloss Oberhofen is a historic castle and museum complex on the southern shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, operated by the non-profit Stiftung Schloss Oberhofen (Schloss Oberhofen Foundation). The castle's keep (Bergfried) dates to circa 1200 AD, and a museum has operated inside the castle since 1954. The foundation maintains permanent and temporary exhibitions on aristocratic life around 1900, the servants' quarters, and the castle's ownership history — including its 1926 purchase by American W.M. Measey — and curates the castle park, regarded as one of the most beautiful gardens in the Alpine region.

The foundation's product offering is anchored on three demand pillars: (1) cultural tourism through museum admissions, multilingual guided tours (German, English, French), and a year-round calendar of cultural events including outdoor cinema (Kino im Schlosshof), concerts, theater, monodramas, and themed tours; (2) event and venue rental for weddings, civil ceremonies, corporate meetings, and private celebrations, with six rental spaces (Garden Hall, Castle Terrace, Chapel, Dining Room, Lake Tower, Salle Harrach) priced from CHF 300 to over CHF 1,000; and (3) partnerships with the on-site Restaurant Schloss Oberhofen for catering, the Zivilstandskreis Oberland West for civil marriages, and Switzerland Wedding Company for international elopement packages. Revenue is supplemented by donations channeled through the foundation for park maintenance and conservation.

The operational model is a multi-channel, event-driven go-to-market approach combining direct consumer bookings, a third-party ticketing platform (Eventfrog.ch), and channel partnerships with regional tourism networks (Thunerseeschloesser, Verein Schweizer Schlösser). The foundation operates with 17 employees (excluding volunteers/castle association members), serves primarily regional and international cultural tourists, couples seeking distinctive wedding venues, and corporate clients, and is governed as a non-profit entity with no parent company or external financial ownership.

Name

Schloss Oberhofen

Legal name

Stiftung Schloss Oberhofen

Website

https://schlossoberhofen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schloss Oberhofen is a non-profit Swiss heritage foundation operating a circa 1200 AD castle and museum on Lake Thun, serving cultural tourists, couples seeking wedding venues, and corporate clients through museum admissions, guided tours, events, and venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Museum & Cultural Venue

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Historic castle museum
• Wedding venue rentals
• Guided castle tours
• Cultural event hosting
• Heritage tourism services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oberhofen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Ticket sales for castle tours and museum visits. General admission, reduced rates (KulturLegi), and free park access.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue from ticketed events including cinema nights (CHF 18), theater performances (CHF 35), concerts (CHF 20 adults, CHF 6 children), and special events.
3. Venue Rental: Room and venue rental for weddings, civil ceremonies, corporate events, and private celebrations. Pricing varies by space (Garden Hall, Castle Terrace, Chapel, Dining Room, Lake Tower, Salle Harrach) with additional fees for setup and equipment.
4. Guided Tours: Group tour packages in multiple languages (German, English, French) covering castle history, aristocratic life, servants' quarters, and special themed tours.
5. Catering Partnership: Restaurant Schloss Oberhofen operates as official catering partner for events on castle grounds.
6. Donations and Support: Support and donation revenue through Stiftung Schloss Oberhofen foundation for park maintenance and conservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schloss Oberhofen operates a historic castle and museum on Lake Thun in Switzerland, offering guided museum tours of original living quarters, themed exhibitions, and access to the castle park. The venue is also rented for weddings, private celebrations, and corporate/business meetings, alongside a cultural program of concerts, cinema, and theater events. Operations are run by the Schloss Oberhofen Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit entity.

Product overview

Schloss Oberhofen is a historic castle and museum located on Lake Thun in Switzerland, operated by the Schloss Oberhofen Foundation. The offering consists of a unified cultural heritage experience combining museum tours of the 800-year-old castle with exhibitions on aristocratic life, access to the castle park, and a year-round program of cultural events. The venue also operates as an event space for weddings, civil ceremonies, business meetings, and private celebrations, with rooms available for rental including the Summer Hall, Garden Hall, Chapel, and Lake Tower. On-site catering is provided through an external partner restaurant. The product portfolio includes core offerings (castle tours, park access, exhibitions, events program, venue rentals for weddings and business) and partner services (restaurant, external wedding packages).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Castle Museum Tours
• Special Exhibitions
• Schlosspark (Castle Park)
• Weddings & Private Celebrations
• Meetings & Business Events
• Cultural Events Program
• Christmas Market

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Restaurant Schloss OberhofencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial catering partner for all events held on the castle grounds. Handles all food and beverage services for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Contact: [email protected], Tel. +41 33 243 53 63. Dogs are welcome at the restaurant.
• Switzerland Wedding CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational wedding service provider offering elopement and destination wedding packages at Schloss Oberhofen. Services include transfers, photography, and private dining arrangements at the castle restaurant.
• Zivilstandskreis Oberland WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil Registry Office for Oberland West district that officially registers and conducts civil marriage ceremonies at the castle. Handles ceremony bookings and planning. Contact: Tel. 031 635 43 00, [email protected]. Reservations accepted up to one year in advance.
• Thunerseeschloesser (Lake Thun Castles)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional marketing association promoting castle tourism around Lake Thun. Schloss Oberhofen is featured as a member destination.
• Verein Schweizer Schlösser (Association of Swiss Castles)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational association of Swiss castles that organizes joint events and marketing initiatives including the annual Swiss Castle Day (Schweizer Schlössertag).
• Kutschensammlung RothenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarriage collection that collaborated with Schloss Oberhofen for the Swiss Castle Day 2026 exhibition, displaying the original Gala Carriage of Count J.H.E. Siméon (1828-1908).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Thunerseeschloesser (Lake Thun Castles): Regional marketing association bundling Lake Thun castles (Spiez, Thun, Hünegg, Oberhofen) for shared tourism promotion, directly impacting Schloss Oberhofen's regional go-to-market.
• Verein Schweizer Schlösser: National Swiss castles association of which Schloss Oberhofen is a member; the association organizes joint events (Schweizer Schlössertag) and shared marketing that shape peer demand patterns.

Direct peers

• Schloss Hallwyl: Swiss moated castle museum operated by Canton Aargau, offering guided tours, school programs, and cultural events in a directly comparable heritage-museum model.
• Château de Gruyères: Swiss heritage castle operating as a museum with cultural events and exhibitions — comparable in product mix (museum, exhibitions, events) though managed by the Canton of Fribourg.
• Schloss Lenzburg: Large Swiss castle complex with museum, exhibitions, and hospitality/event operations including the Hotel Restaurant Schloss Lenzburg — a broader but operationally similar peer.
• Schloss Hünegg: Lake Thun castle operated as a museum and event venue, also part of the Lake Thun Castles network, offering comparable guided tours and event rentals.
• Château de Chillon: Switzerland's most-visited historic castle and museum near Montreux, offering comparable museum tours, exhibitions, weddings, and corporate events at significantly larger scale.
• Schloss Spiez: Historic castle on Lake Thun operating as a museum and event venue with similar exhibitions, weddings, and cultural programming under a foundation structure — the closest geographic and operational peer.
• Schloss Thun: Regional castle museum on Lake Thun that is part of the same thunerseeschloesser.ch network, sharing audience, branding, and Swiss Castles Association membership.

Emerging players

• Heididorf / Maienfeld: Swiss heritage-themed cultural attraction monetized through ticketed entry and events — adjacent comparison for Swiss regional heritage venues monetized via tourism rather than lodging.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schlossoberhofen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schloss Oberhofen