[1] The castle was built around 1090-1100 by Burkart von Fenis, the Bishop of Basel.

The warden knights took their name from the castle and town and became known as the von Erlach family.

[2] After the death of Isabella of Neuchatel, the widow of the last Count of Nidau, in 1395 Erlach was managed directly by the House of Savoy.

[3] In 1474 it was conquered by Bernese troops during the Burgundian Wars and remained under the control of the city of Bern.

[4] The first governor of the newly captured district was Rudolf von Erlach, who had been the castellan under the de Chalon family.