Schloss Schadau is a wonderfully elegant 200-year-old manor house that offers old-world charm and atmosphere, friendly staff, a lovely restaurant, and a very romantic setting by Lake Thunersee, just south of Bern in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region.
The Rooms:
It has a choice of accommodation from small double rooms to suites ranging in size from 18 to 44 m².
The larger suites and rooms have a balcony and some terrific views over the lake and mountains, with the best value perhaps being the ‘Deluxe Room with Balcony’ which is only marginally smaller than the suites and has equally good views.
The entire hotel is unashamedly old-style, and the decor of the rooms, and the common areas, reflects this.
They may have modern hotel features; cable TV and WiFi, satin sheets and Weseta linens, etc. but nothing distracts much from the very charming late 19th-early 20th-century ambience.
Note: The accommodation is for over 18s only.
Prices:
Check out all the details – prices, reviews, and more photos – on the booking page here.
Facilities & Things to Do:
There is a very fine restaurant at Schadau Castle where you’ll find modern interpretations of classic Franco-Mediterranean cuisine. It is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon teas and snacks, and dinner, and both the service and the food are consistently excellent.
The food can be enjoyed in the elegant old dining hall or, weather permitting, outside on the lovely terrace overlooking Lake Thunersee. You can also arrange food parcels for private picnics around the castle’s beautiful grounds.
The hotel bar is relaxed and friendly and has an extensive wine list as well as other drinks including a range of special sherries and port wines. There is also a guest lounge area on the first floor which offers complimentary drinks, coffee, tea, fruit, etc. all day.
There are many simple, peaceful pleasures to be enjoyed around Schloss Schadau; wandering around the gardens and the lake, swimming or other water sports, taking a boat trip, or enjoying a picnic. Guests also have free access to spa and wellness facilities at the nearby Hotel Seepark, a two-minute walk away.
The Location:
Schadau Castle is in the charming little town of Thun which sits on the River Aare at the northern end of Lake Thun and is known as the gateway to Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region as well as the Alps.
It is a historic town and particularly famous for its castle which dates back to the 12th century and has commanding views over the lake and the surrounding mountains.
Lake Thun, one of Switzerland’s largest, draws many visitors in summer, and there you can enjoy all kinds of water sports as well as some very inspiring scenery. The nearest city is Switzerland’s capital, Bern, less than half an hour by car or 20 minutes by train, just to the north.
A Little History of Schadau Castle:
Schadau Castle and its surroundings have a history dating back to 1348 when Schadau House was mentioned for the first time in writing. During that time it was a relatively ordinary building before it was rebuilt in 1638 as an aristocratic manor house.
The present structure though belongs to the 19th century when, in 1852, its then owner, Denis Alfred de Rougemont, having previously created landscaped English-style gardens in the grounds, decided to build a suitably grand Neo-Gothic style castle to go with them.
The park gardens opened to the public in the late 19th century and became a popular weekend day-out for the people of Thun. So much so that most of the grounds were eventually sold to Thun town council, which converted it into a public park.
The castle was used as a private house and, in times of war, a military museum and sanitary station.
The castle saw years of service as a hotel, undergoing restoration at various points in the last hundred years with the last one being from 2017 to 2019.
To keep a delicate historical building in line with modern hotel standards while still preserving its historical nature is a very tricky business but thankfully Schloss Schadau seems to have got it right, and it remains a charmingly atmospheric place.
Some Guest Reviews:
“Felt like a queen in my castle! Simply amazing…Location and views cannot be beat! LOVED!…”
“Gorgeous location, friendly staff, lovely outdoor restaurant, fantastic original Neo-Gothic architecture and very aesthetic renovations….”
