Grasburg, Schwarzenburg BE

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Grasburg, Schwarzenburg BE

All that remains today of the former castle complex in the Sense Gorge between Bern and Fribourg are overgrown ruins. In the Middle Ages, the castle played a significant role in the political disputes between the Bishopric of Lausanne and the Imperial City of Bern, particularly in connection with the Augustinian monastery at Köniz. With the Reformation, the Sense Gorge became a prominent dividing line between the different religious denominations. The strategically important and long-disputed County of Grasburg was jointly administered by Bern and Fribourg from 1423 onwards. In 1803, it finally passed definitively to the Canton of Bern.

Our Questions

  • Will ancient ruins and archaeological sites weather away more quickly in future? 
  • How will the balance between the remains of built structures and the local flora and fauna change
  • What needs to be done to better protect these open-air relics from increasing climate stress?
Grasburg ruins, overgrown with vegetation © Naturpark Gantrisch
Increasingly concentrated rainfall, wetter winters and ever drier summers sharpen the swing between wetting and drying. This drives salt and other moisture-related damage to building materials exposed to the elements. A longer growing season means more vegetation on the ruins, and more maintenance work to keep it in check.

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