Schenkenberg Castle, Bern and the Canton of Aargau

13 October 2026

From the 13th to the 15th century, Schenkenberg Castle was the seat of various noble families. From 1460 until it was abandoned in 1720, it served as the seat of the Bernese bailiff. The main keep stood at the highest point of the site. It consisted of the main tower, the shield wall (die Schildmauer, see also Farnsburg Castle) and the great hall.

  

To the west lay the lower castle with its service buildings (granary, stables, bakery, smokehouse and water supply) and the gatehouse. Access to the inner castle was via a long staircase leading into the great hall. The castle was flanked by round towers. To the south lay the walled castle garden, whilst a moat protected the castle to the east.

I. Wernli, Bild im Restaurant Schenkenberg in Thalheim

History

Schenkenberg Castle was founded in the first half of the 13th century. A document from 1243 mentions ‘dominus H. de Schenkenberc’. He was presumably a vassal of the Counts of Habsburg. It subsequently belonged to the Lords of Schönau until the mid-14th century.

The castle passed to the Lords of Baldegg in 1451. The Bernese, who had ruled Aargau since 1415, also occupied this castle in 1460. It subsequently served as the bailiff’s seat until 1720. Around 50 bailiffs resided at Schenkenberg. In 1720, the castle was abandoned due to its dilapidated condition and the bailiwick was moved to Wildenstein Castle.

Thalheim

The village of Thalheim (Canton of Aargau) lies at the foot of the castle in the Schenkenberg Valley, part of the Jura Park Aargau. The village was first mentioned in a document in 1064. Alemannic graves indicate that the area was settled much earlier.

Thanks to wine-growing, the village flourished to become the second-largest municipality in the district of Brugg by the 17th century. Agriculture and viticulture have now lost much of their significance, yet there are still more than 30 full-time or part-time farmers.

The church and the vicarage

With the Bern coat of arms on its façade, the vicarage still dominates the village square. It was built in 1731. The church, dedicated to St Peter, was originally Romanesque in style.

It was renovated in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1543, following the Reformation, it was extended and renovated once more. The baptismal font dates from 1675.