After almost 6,000 hours of work, the 13th century castle was completely restored. Now the remains of the castle near Zweisimmen will no longer decay.
Not much is known about the origins of the masonry. Archaeologists do not even know who built the castle. All that is known is that the castle was German royal property and fell into ruin after a devastating fire in 1349. There is still a lot to be researched on the Mannenberg - it is assumed that the castle complex continues far to the west and north, but there has been no excavation there for a long time. The reason for this is Hannes von Schlenggwyl.
Hannes von Schlenggwyl
The two castles of Mannenberg and Laubegg, which were destroyed by the Bernese in 1349, were the scene of superstitious treasure hunts for many, many years after their fall. The chronicle tells us the following legend about the many attempts to dig up treasures in their ruins using conjured spirits:
Question: “What is your name?”
Answer from the depths of the tower: “Hannes von Schlenggwyl.”
Question: “Do you have money under your custody?”
Answer: “Yes! But not for you, it belongs to someone else!”
Question: “Who owns the money?”
Answer: “The House of Austria. Now don’t ask me any more!”
Question: “What kind of collateral was used?”
Answer: “Don’t ask me anymore, I have told you everything I want to tell you.
Now leave me alone.”
But the conjurer would not give up conjuring the spirit and began to question him again, but received no more answers. Instead, a terrible sound came from the depths and an eerie rumbling came up. The spirit conjurer was hurled down over the rocks on the midnight side of the castle, so that his white coat appeared as a long streak in the air. Stray ran home in terror, but the conjurer was never seen again.
Access
There are some parking spaces at the former Burg Mannried bus stop. From there you can continue on foot.