The Battle of Laupen was a decisive victory for Bern and its Swiss Confederation allies against the town of Fribourg.

Laupen was one of a string of battles presaging the definite decline of High Medieval heavy cavalry (knights) in the face of improving infantry tactics during the following century and led to Bern joining the Swiss Confederation in 1353.

The oldest traces of settlements in Laupen is some Bronze Age sword blades which were found in a gravel pit and two grave mounds at Holzmatt-Laupenholz.

The castle was built with a keep, main tower, and ring wall on a sandstone spur above the Sense river.

In 1310 Emperor Henry VII pledged the castle and lands as collateral for a loan.

[3] After Laupen became part of the Canton of Bern, the castle was the Bernese administrative headquarters.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the bailiwick of Laupen expanded several times as Bern acquired more lands along the Sarine and Sense rivers.

The city authorities; mayor, town council and general assembly, were subordinate to the Bernese governor.

[3] Until the 15th Century Laupen was an important stage on the east–west road between Bern and Fribourg.

The small bridge over the Sense at the town gate only served local traffic.

The poverty of the population and the resulting low construction activity helped to leave the old town almost untouched.

This consists of two full rows of houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries and a church around a triangular market plaza.

After the partial demolition of the fortifications (1847–70) only parts of the curtain wall and the Freiburgtor (Fribourg gate), from the 15th century, remained.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Linden Tree eradicated Vert with seven leaves.

[9] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (2,581 or 92.3%) as their first language, Italian is the second most common (43 or 1.5%) and French is the third (42 or 1.5%).

[9] The historical population is given in the following chart:[3][13] Laupen Castle is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

The entire town of Laupen is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

In the tertiary sector; 171 or 28.4% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 32 or 5.3% were in the movement and storage of goods, 38 or 6.3% were in a hotel or restaurant, 4 or 0.7% were in the information industry, 24 or 4.0% were the insurance or financial industry, 69 or 11.5% were technical professionals or scientists, 24 or 4.0% were in education and 189 or 31.4% were in health care.

From the 2000 census[update], 510 or 18.2% were Roman Catholic, while 1,879 or 67.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

The wettest month is June during which time Laupen receives an average of 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain or snow.

The driest month of the year is February with an average of 62 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation over 10.3 days.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship.