Schloss Blankenburg: Staying at the new Bed & Breakfast in the Simmental

Overnight in historic walls, enjoying regional specialties and setting off directly on discovery tours through the Simmental: the new Bed & Breakfast breathes new life into the venerable Schloss Blankenburg and scores points with uncomplicated hospitality and a genuine culture of enjoyment. We stayed at the castle and think: this is not only wonderfully relaxing, the B&B is also the perfect base for hikes in the Simmental.

A new Bed & Breakfast in Blankenburg near Zweisimmen

Schloss Blankenburg served for a long time as the administrative seat of the Obersimmental, before it passed in 2012 from the Canton of Bern to the Stiftung Schloss Blankenburg. Since then the foundation has been working to preserve the historic monument and makes the historic rooms accessible, among other things, for cultural events, civil weddings, celebrations and tours. In the course of a generational change, Anne-Sophie Jaggi and Lukas Gasser had the opportunity to expand the mix of uses and to establish a Bed & Breakfast to realize. The two experienced hospitality professionals bring not only a great deal of know-how and personal commitment, but also a close connection to the region: Anne-Sophie grew up in the neighboring Saanenland. Together they want to give the historic site new impetus and at the same time contribute to its long-term preservation.

Historic walls – a laid-back atmosphere

The result is a really cool place to stay for anyone who appreciates historic buildings and values unique spots outside the conventional hotel setting.

There are six individually furnished rooms to choose from in total. Two shared bathrooms with shower and toilet are located on the floor. Integrating private bathrooms into the historic rooms would have involved considerable effort at the start due to monument preservation requirements. Anne-Sophie and Lukas, however, see their Bed & Breakfast as a project they want to develop step by step.

The rooms are complemented by a communal area with cozy sofas and a reading corner. In good weather, the castle garden also offers wonderfully secluded retreats.

A castle to enjoy

That Anne-Sophie and Lukas both come from the hospitality industry shows in the culinary offerings. For them it’s not about offering the widest possible selection, but about carefully chosen products, personal contact with producers and foods that have a story behind them. Anne-Sophie also serves on the board of Slow Food Bern. Some time ago I once benefited from a restaurant tip from her and have followed her on Instagram ever since. So I also know: depending on the season you’ll find her out mushroom foraging or making sausages in Piedmont.

This joy in good food and genuine craftsmanship is also palpable in the castle. You can especially experience it with an aperitivo on the terrace. There’s something tasty to nibble on and a knowledgeable wine recommendation to go with it. For us it’s the perfect place to arrive after a day of hiking, put your feet up and ease into the evening.

The culinary signature continues at breakfast the next morning. Instead of a huge buffet you’ll find a carefully assembled selection of fine products, many of them from the region or from producers Anne-Sophie and Lukas personally know.

Anyone who stays at the castle on a Saturday can also look forward to a culinary extra: Anne-Sophie and Lukas then cook an uncomplicated dinner for their guests. The focus here, too, is on selected, preferably local and seasonal ingredients.

The perfect base for hiking in the Simmental

For us, the location of Schloss Blankenburg is another big plus. How practical it is as a starting point for hikes we tested ourselves during our stay: lace up your hiking boots, step out the castle door — and off you go. Our tour led us straight from Blankenburg over the Scheidegg to the Grimmialp in the Diemtigtal Nature Park.

And that’s far from the only beautiful hike you can combine with a stay at Schloss Blankenburg. Over the years we’ve collected several route suggestions around the Simmental on the blog. Here is a selection of our favorites:

Seebergsee and Meniggrat:The idyllic Seebergsee lies hidden in the Spillgerten nature reserve and is also accessible from the Simmental side (if you like, you can start directly from Blankenburg).Our panoramic hike leads from Seebergsee up to the Meniggratand features magnificent views of the surrounding mountain scenery along the way.

Leiternweide suspension bridge:If you’re looking for a shorter tour, I recommend the hike from Oberwil to Weissenburg. Along the way, several exciting stops await, including the 111-meter-long Leiternweide suspension bridge, prehistoric caves, and the remains of the once-famous Weissenburgbad.

Gryden high-altitude circuit at Lenk:You almost feel like you’re on another planet among the funnel-shaped depressions of the Gryden on Betelberg. The scenic high-altitude circular trail is a comparatively easy way to explore this extraordinary landscape above Lenk.

Metschstand – Bütschi Stafel – Bergläger: Also starting in Lenk, this panoramic high-altitude hike sets off. From Metschstand, the route leads with plenty of mountain scenery via Bütschi Stafel down to Bergläger. A nice option for anyone looking for a relatively short tour with as much scenery as possible.

Simmenfälle und Sibe Brünne: If you can handle a few more kilometers and elevation gain, you’ll find another lovely hike at the far end of the Simmental. The tour follows the water to the impressive Simmenfälle and on to the Sibe Brünne, the headwaters of the Simme.

Horneggli-Panoramaweg: Practically on the doorstep is the Rinderberg above Zweisimmen. From there the scenic panorama trail leads over the Gandlouenengrat towards Horneggli and Saanenmöser. A roughly three-hour tour with lots of mountain panorama and relatively few meters of ascent. You can find the corresponding route description (with a bit of scrolling) in this blog post.

Practical tips for your stay at Schloss Blankenburg

Getting there: By train, you can reach Blankenburg via Spiez and Zweisimmen (note: stop on request!). From the station it’s only a short walk to the castle. If you arrive by car, parking is available on site.

Rooms & Bath: The castle offers six individually furnished guest rooms to choose from. Two shared bathrooms with shower and WC are located on the same floor.

Breakfast & meals: Breakfast is at a direct booking via the hotel websiteincluded in the room rate. On Saturday evenings a simple dinner is prepared.

Note: Schloss Blankenburg kindly invited me for a no-obligation trial stay. All other costs related to the stay were paid for by me.