Birseck

The Birseck is an area of the Canton of Basle-Countryside

Geographical location

Gathering the five communes of Arlesheim, from Münchenstein, Reinach, Aesch and Pfeffingen, the area extends in the valley from the Birse starting from the last Cluse from the river on which is the castle of Angenstein to the doors of the town of Basle.

History

The baillage of Birseck is bought in 1239 by the Diocèse of Basle. At that time, in addition to the villages, the baillage includes/understands four strong castles bearing the name of Birseck built at the 13th century on a rock edge near to Arlesheim, namely, north in the south, Ober Birseck (today Burg Reichenstein ), Hinter Birseck , Mittler Birseck and Vorder Birseck . The four castles are annexed in 1245 with the chapter cathédral of Basle, in particular that of Vorder Birseck from where the prince-bishops manage the area.

In 1525, the majority of the villages of Birseck pass to the Protestant Réforme while remaining under the authority of the bishop until the Counter-Reformation carried out as of 1581 by Jacques Christophe Blarer de Wartensee and which succeeded in 1627 by the return to the Catholicism of all the villages.

Occupied in 1792 by the France, the area belongs to the République rauracian, then French department of the Mount-Terrible of 1793 with 1800 and finally of that of the Haut-Rhin until in 1814 where the Congrès of Vienna allots it to the Canton of Basle. Finally, the area joined the demicanton of Basle-Countryside at the time of the foundation of this one in 1833.

Sources

Articles '' Birseck (bailliage) '' and '' Birseck (strong castles) '' of the Swiss historical Dictionary

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