Castle and Bailiwick of Trachselwald
Trachselwald Castle was the center of the bailiwick created in 1408, to which Bern subordinated large parts of its property in the Emmental for administration.
Historical map of the Emmental with Trachselwald bailiwick (Fritz Häusler; SSRQ II/8).
Since the Reformation, the bailiwick has largely encompassed the territory of the following parishes: Affoltern, Eriswil, Huttwil, Trachselwald, Rüderswil, Lauperswil, Langnau, Trub and Schangnau.
The dissolution of the bailiwick took place after the French Revolution in the Helvetic period. The castle, which was looted in 1798, was the official seat of the cantonal administrative and judicial district from 1803 to 2009.
In addition, it also housed an educational institution for the poor from 1835 to 1876 and the cantonal compulsory educational institution for adolescents from 1892 to 1928.
The castle has been empty since 2009.