[1] During the High Middle Ages the Freiherr von Oberhofen built Balm Castle on a hill above the village.

The Habsburgs appointed a succession of vassals to administer the area for them, especially the Kyburgs who also owned Thun Castle.

In the following year they sold the castle and Oberhofen Herrschaft to Ludwig von Seftigen, a citizen of Bern.

After the male line of the von Erlach family in Oberhofen died out in 1652, Bern acquired the castle and lands.

Following the 1798 French invasion, Oberhofen am Thunersee became part of the Helvetic Republic Canton of Oberland.

After the collapse of the Republic and 1803 Act of Mediation it joined the newly created Thun District.

[5] After Bern took over the castle from the von Erlach family it became the seat of a Bernese bailiff and was expanded.

Count Albert Alexander de Pourtalès had spent several years in Istanbul as a Prussian diplomat.