After Château de Chillon, Schloss Burgdorf is the second best castle in Switzerland. Construction of fortifications on that hill began in the 11th century by the Kingdom of Burgundy. The was expanded over the centuries by various owners until the 18th century when the precursor to modern Switzerland was formed.
Because Switzerland is a republic, the castle was owned by the government and then turned into a school by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. The Pestalozzi family originally migrated to Switzerland from Italy in the 17th century during the Counter-Reformation.
The castle was used as a museum as early as 1886. Today, entry is free for holders of the Swiss Museum Pass and it is a great place for families. There are interactive and child-friendly exhibits at lower heights to teach children about how castles are built, how people lived in medieval times, and history of the region.
There is a cafe on the castle grounds so you can have a coffee and a snack while looking down on the Emmental valley.
