Château d'Erguel
| Erguel Castle | |
|---|---|
| Château d'Erguel | |
| Sonvilier, Canton of Bern, Switzerland | |
Ruins of Erguel Castle
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 Erguel Castle
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| Coordinates | 47°08′08″N 6°58′37″E / 47.13567°N 6.97708°E |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Condition | ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | before 1264, most likely 11th century |
Erguel Castle (French: Château d'Erguel) is a ruined castle in the municipality of Sonvilier in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is the best preserved castle ruin in the French-speaking Bernese Jura.
During the 11th century, the Lords of Erguel, or Arguel, moved from Franche-Comté and settled in the village of Sonvilier. Exactly when they built Erguel Castle on a hill south-east of the village is unknown, but in 1178 and 1184 Heinrich von Erguël was mentioned ruling over the region. The knights of Erguel owned land in the surrounding valley and held the vogt office over the church at Saint-Imier. The family kept the castle, the surrounding land and the lordship until 1264 when Otto von Erguel, who at the time lived in Basel, ceded them to the Prince-Bishop of Basel. In return the bishop granted him lands in Alsace.
The bishop appointed a bailiff for the castle, but administered the extended lands out of Biel. The castle was the southernmost point in the episcopal dominion. Under Bishop Heinrich of Isny (1275-1286) the castle was strengthened and expanded. The currently visible parts of the castle probably all date to this construction period. It can be assumed that the visible parts of the plant today to go back to that time.
In 1368 Bishop Johann of Venningen went to war against Bern. Troops from Bern and Biel attacked, captured and burned Erguel Castle. It must have been rebuilt, since in 1417 there was a castellan at the castle. Later, it was used as a prison for several decades. In 1617 Bishop Wilhelm Rinck of Baldenstein repaired the castle and stationed a garrison there to protect his land against the city of Biel. During the Thirty Years War, in 1636, it was used as housing and storage for Swedish troops.
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