From Barons to Duchesses: Swiss castle begins selling noble titles

Ever wanted to be a Countess, Baron, Duke or Duchess of Switzerland? Though the alpine nation isn’t typically known for its lords and ladies, one castle in Canton Bern now allows you to take your own title.

Become a Lord or Lady in Switzerland

To help boost funding for the historical site, Thunstetten Castle has begun selling symbolic titles to guests. Anyone is able to receive the title after donating to the castle, with monikers ranging from Countess and Duke to Baron. 

It will cost you a sack of pennies to get yourself a title. Prices vary from 80 francs a year for “Baron” right up to 500 francs for the title of Duke or Duchess. The best title, “Grand Duke or Duchess,” can be bought for a one-off payment of 1.715 francs.

Thunstetten Castle hit with rising costs

The 300-year-old castle was built by a Bernese Patrician family in the French Baroque style. The single-story manor house with courtyards has gone through several owners and has been a museum, cultural centre, and wedding and events venue since it was given to the Thunstetten Castle Foundation in 1970. 

However, this opulence has come at a cost: speaking to SRF, foundation president Michael Schär explained that costs at the venue have “exploded” in recent years, especially when it comes to energy and heating. Therefore, he hopes that the new titles “will provide a boost” to the location's finances.

Can you actually use noble titles in Switzerland?

However, before you buy yourself a Lord or Ladyship and head to the local council to change your name, be warned that, legally speaking, no one is allowed to use noble titles in Switzerland. In fact, while several formerly noble families do still live across the cantons, the first Federal Constitution of 1848 abolished all noble rights, privileges and titles.

"You can put the noble title on your business card—but that's all you can do," nobility expert Andreas Z'Graggen told SRF. Though he described the Thunstetten titles as a “good” joke, he said he was not surprised by the offer. 

"For many people, the nobility is a symbol of prestige and social advancement…The legend that Switzerland once freed itself from the nobility through a peasant revolution is historically exaggerated…Nevertheless, this legend continues to shape the Swiss self-image to this day," he noted.

Title holders promised exclusive events at Thunstetten Castle

In response, Schär said he hoped the scheme would help build a connection between donors and the castle. "For many patrons, the prestige of the title is not the priority, but rather the support of cultural projects and the joy of history," he argued. In addition to feeling “part of a historical tradition”, he promised that Lords and Ladies will be given access to “exclusive events” at the castle, starting with an apéro. 

Want to grab a title for yourself? Check out the official website.