Among the most special treasures of the von Erlach family in Spiez is their extensive, valuable library. It reflects the aspirations and self-perception of the castle lords to be open, educated and sophisticated. More than just a collection for everyday use, the library is integral to the family’s wealth.
Books are not just for education, but are also a status symbol due to their value. Little is known about the actual usage of them in their daily life.
Scattered to the four winds
The castle library of the von Erlach family goes under the hammer in 1875 along with the building itself and household items. The auction catalogue includes some 3000 books of which 450 predate 1650, possibly going back to the time of Franz Ludwig von Erlach.
Today, around 250 volumes are returned to Spiez, providing some insight into the original collection.
Dominik Tomasik, Collection & Archive, sammlung@schloss-spiez.ch
