Grandson Castle

As the largest sponsorship project, the castle, its museum and its parks are places that bring together a wide variety of people and invite them to discuss shared values and identity. At Grandson Castle, the SKKG can realize its vision - "Culture for all" - with a wide range of educational offerings and activities relating to the castle and its history. In dialog with visitors from all over Switzerland and researchers from all over the world, Grandson explores the social impact that the SKKG's historical collection can have.

The founder of the foundation, Bruno Stefanini, saw himself as a guardian of Swiss art and cultural assets and recognized Grandson Castle as an important architectural and historical monument for the Swiss Confederation.the negotiation and care of art, cultural and historical values are anchored in the purpose of the SKKG foundation. Today, the castle contributes to the work of the SKKG: As an important Swiss architectural monument, it is a storehouse of knowledge for the history of Switzerland and its links with the surrounding countries. For example, Grandson was the scene of conflicts that reshaped the map of Europe - including the battle of 1476 between Charles the Bold and the Confederates.

The major "Château de Grandson 2026" project launched jointly by the SKKG, Terresta and the Fondation du Château de Grandson in 2021 will reposition this architectural monument of national importance in the Swiss museum, culture and tourism landscape. Terresta, the real estate division of SKKG, has been working on a comprehensive renovation and restoration project on site in Grandson since 2008. Together with various partners, from planners and specialized craftsmen to the cantonal archaeologist, we have been looking for the best way to deal with the old buildings and the remains of times long past hidden beneath them.

The castle remained open to the public during the construction work. Guided tours and workshops were offered to illustrate the extent of the renovation. In addition to the work on the historic building, the focus was also on the surroundings and the exchange with the local population. For example, they were able to have their say in the selection process for the award of the landscape architecture contract: Randomly selected interested parties took part in so-called MiniPublics and shared their opinions on the submitted plans. 20 Grandson residents aged between eleven and 99 as well as representatives from six local associations took part. The aim of the project was to make the various parks around Grandson Castle more accessible and therefore more enjoyable for all visitors.

Just in time for the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Grandson, the castle will be officially reopened on March 2, 2026. From March 7, 2026, Grandson Castle will once again be open to the public as one of Switzerland's most important cultural heritages. The SKKG focuses on holistic use and communication - as a place of culture, learning and exchange.

With its historic buildings, exciting exhibitions and various collections, the castle will once again become a lively place for culture, history and encounters. In addition to the permanent exhibition and an international crossbow center, temporary exhibitions are planned

With over 200 crossbows from 2000 years of history and from three continents, the SKKG already had an extensive collection of crossbows. Until the start of the renovation work at Grandson Castle, the majority of them were stored there. With the acquisition of the collection of the Englishman G. P. Jenkinson, the crossbow collection grew to around 350 at the end of 2024 - making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. From 2027, the crossbows can be admired in a permanent exhibition at the "Center d'Arbalètes" at Grandson Castle.