Schloss Hindelbank

Hindelbank, Switzerland, Switzerland

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Schloss Hindelbank in Hindelbank, Switzerland, is a striking Baroque castle constructed between 1720 and 1725 for Bernese patrician Hieronymus von Erlach, designed by French architect Joseph Abeille with execution by Daniel Stürler, featuring a symmetrical north-facing courtyard, steep hipped roof, and elegant corps de logis with rows of uniform windows.

The estate served as a luxurious manor for the Erlach family until 1866, when it was sold to the Canton of Bern, transforming into a workhouse for poor women and later a reformatory in 1896, with major renovations in 1962-66 and 1996 converting it into the administrative headquarters of Switzerland's sole women's prison.

Recognized as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, it exemplifies early 18th-century Baroque architecture amid Emmental landscapes, blending aristocratic history with modern institutional use near the Aare River.