Worb Castle, Medieval castle in Worb, Switzerland

Worb Castle is a castle in Worb, Canton of Bern, whose core was built before 1130, with a keep, great hall and knight's house. It was renovated and repaired in 1469 and 1594, and in 1643 a new residential wing was added. The Baroque residential building dates from the 17th century, and the nearby New Castle was built after 1743.

The castle's core was built before 1130 for the Freiherren von Worb, who were first mentioned around 1130; in 1146 Duke Konrad I of Zähringen held court at their seat. In 1329 it passed to Johann von Kien and in 1352 to the von Diesbach family. After a fire in 1535 the castle was rebuilt, and in 1668 Christoph von Graffenried reunited the divided lordship. The family sold it in 1792 to Johann Rudolf von Sinner; it remains privately owned.

The castle shows how Swiss noble families lived and adapted their homes across the centuries as needs and tastes changed. The Baroque addition from 1643 sits alongside the older stone walls, marking a shift in how people wanted to live.

The castle remains privately owned and has limited visitor access, so planning ahead is important before traveling there. Check local information or contact the property in advance to learn about visiting conditions and what parts might be open to the public.

Christoph von Graffenried (1661–1743), founder of New Bern in North Carolina, was the nephew of Christoph von Graffenried (1603–1687), who reunited all parts of the Worb lordship in 1668. The family kept the estate until 1792, when heirs sold it to Johann Rudolf von Sinner.