Museum & Special Exhibition Spiez Castle
CASTLE MUSEUM
Changing eras and owners
During the Alemannic land seizure, a centre of power was formed on the peninsula on Lake Thun, which the richly endowed equestrian grave from AD 680 is proof of. The Lords of Strättligen had a great hall and a stone towerbuilt in the 12th century. They lived a chivalrous lifestyle which is shown by the graffities of tournaments in the tower as well as by the heritage of Heinrich von Strättligen as a minnesinger in the Codex Manesse. In 1338, castle and power came into possession of the Bubenbergs, who were strongly involved in Bernese politics. Adrian von Bubenberg is well remembered for being the hero of the battle of Murten during the Burgundy wars. In 1516, Ludwig von Erlach acquired the property and thus his family retained the ownership until 1875. Franz Ludwig von Erlach had a magnificent ballroom installed in 1614. Antonio Castelli from Ticino decorated it with stucco works of the early Baroque style. It was in 1927, when the Foundation Spiez Castle was established to maintain the castle and making it available to the public ever since.
Tracing history: the former castle residents
The exhibition in the castle museum focuses on the former residents. In the medieval residential tower, the world of Heinrich von Strättligen with his tournaments and minnesingers is brought to life. In the gothic rooms, there is Adrian von Bubenberg to meet on his horse. On the second floor, Franz Ludwig von Erlach, his two wives and their in total 37 children are waiting for a chat. While in the castle kitchen a feast is in preparation, a dance to lute music is happening in the Baroque hall.
ART EXHIBITION SAMUEL BURI & das Berner Oberland
21 June to 20 October 2024
Die Ausstellung gibt mit Werken des Berners Otto Tschumi (1904-1985) einen Einblick in eine grenzenlose Phantasiewelt. Mittels seiner virtuosen Technik erschafft der Künstler Bildwelten voll überbordender Poesie. Sein Werk kann sowohl humorvoll wie auch doppelbödig und sarkastisch sein. Nach kubistischen Anfängen, fand Otto Tschumi mit seiner Vorliebe fürs Phantastische viele Anregungen im Surrealismus, ohne sich der Künstlerbewegung anzuschliessen. Mit seinem Werk zählt Otto Tschumi neben Alberto Giacometti, Meret Oppenheim, Serge Brignoni und Max Seligmann zu den bedeutendsten Vertretern des Surrealismus in der Schweiz.
Die Werkauswahl umfasst Gemälde wie auch eindrucksvolle Kohlezeichnungen, Lithografien und Holzschnitte; sie erlaubt einen umfassenden Überblick auf das vielschichtige Schaffen des unverkennbaren Virtuosen von Form und Farbe. Die rund siebzig Werke stammen aus dem Nachlass Otto Tschumis, der sich in der Obhut der ARTNachlassstiftung befindet.
Find all events associated with the Dürrenmatt exhibition here.
