Nydegg Castle, Medieval castle remains in Mattequartier, Switzerland
Nydegg Castle was a high medieval fortress whose stone foundations now lie beneath the choir of Nydeggkirche. The remains sit on elevated ground at the eastern end of Bern's Old City, where the terrain drops steeply toward the Aare River.
The fortress was built around 1190 under Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen to control the region. Bern's citizens demolished it between 1266 and 1273, demonstrating their growing desire for independence from ducal rule.
The church built after the fortress fell became a center for the community's spiritual life and still serves this role today. You can sense this transition by observing how the site evolved from military to religious purpose.
The archaeological remains can be viewed from the adjoining Mattequartier neighborhood, a quiet residential area at the eastern edge of the Old City. The site is easily reached on foot and offers views down into the river valley, though be careful when exploring the steep terrain.
The site commanded a strategic position overlooking three artificial channels that carried water to the city's mills. This water power was critical to Bern's economy and made the castle's location economically valuable.
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