The Unspunnenfest is a traditional sports- and cultural festival held in the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, near the old ruin of Unspunnen Castle, in the Bernese Alps, approximately once every 12 years, most recently in 2017 with the next one scheduled for 2029.
The festival highlights traditional Swiss culture and features competitions of Steinstossen (stone throwing), Schwingen (wrestling) and yodeling. The stone throwing competition uses an 83.5kg (184lb) stone known as the Unspunnenstein ("Unspunnen Stone"), made of Aare granite from the Hasli valley.
The stone-throwing record is currently 4 meters 11 centimetres (13.4 ft).
History
The history of the festival dates back to the 13th century in the meadows of Unspunnen Castle, when local lord Burkard von Unspunnen and the founder of the city of Bern, Berchtold V von Zähringen were able to reconcile their differences.
For similar reasons, the first official festival was organised in 1805 as a way of peacefully bringing people together. Napoleon's troops had invaded Switzerland in 1799 and created the short-lived Helvetic Republic which then turned long-standing cantonal differences into conflict. The event was seen as a way of unifying the nation and the organisers, the Mayor of Bern and the chief magistrate of Interlaken, hoped the festival would bring opposing sides together.
It was not very successful and conflicts continued to exist between rural and urban dwellers, even today. Culturally and financially, however, the first two festivals were a great success. The Swiss Heritage Society and the Swiss Traditional Costume Association owe their origins to the Unspunnen Festival, and it helped to start the tourism industry in the area.
A second competition was held in 1808. The original 92 kg (202lb) stone was lost in the intervening years so the 1808 festival used a 83.5 kg (184 lb) stone.
A third festival was not organized until 1905, using the 1808 stone, now with the dates 1805 and 1905 carved into it. However, it wasn't until 1946 that the festival, then known as the "Swiss Traditional Costume and Cowherd's Festival", was held at regular intervals. After 1946, the Unspunnenfest was staged at regular intervals.
Modern times - the stone becomes a political hostage
In June 1984, the Unspunnen Stone was stolen from the Interlaken Museum of Tourism where it was housed by a group of Jura separatists. As the price for its restitution, the separatists demanded the incorporation of three Bern districts into the canton of Jura.
A new stone was then found, this one weighing 83.5 kg, similar to the 1808 stone, and has been used in all competitions since. This stone is now kept in the safe-deposit strongroom of Interlaken UBS Bank.
In 2001, the 1808 stone was returned, but as it had been damaged and had lost 2.3 kg (5 lb) in weight, it could no longer be used for competitions. It was put on display in the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel in Interlaken from where it was again stolen in 2005, again by Jura dissidents. In Aug 2024 it was found buried somewhere in Canton Jura.
The most recent competition took place in 2017, and the next is scheduled for 2029.
Unspunnen castle
Unspunnen Castle, constructed in the 12th century but now in ruins, is located in the municipality of Wilderswil and overlooks the town of Interlaken.
The castle (first mentioned in 1232 as Uspunnun) was built to guard the late medieval Lütschinenbrücke, a strategic bridge crossing near Interlaken.
Over the centuries ownership of the castle was held by local warlords and changed many times through purchase or marriage until the 16th century when the city of Bern bought the castle and lands and placed it directly under its authority.
In 1762 the lands were transferred to the administration of Interlaken and the castle was allowed to fall into disrepair. The ruins became famous through the Unspunnenfest in 1805 which led to regular cleaning and repairs of the ruins.