Burg Birseck

Burg Birseck (also called Ruin Birseck or Schloss Birseck ) is a Castle-extremely located on the territory of the commune of Arlesheim, in Suisse.

History

The castle, originally called untere or Vorder Burg , is most septentrional of the four medieval castles located on the hill of the Birseck. Southernmost Burg Reichenstein is called today whereas the two central castles are nothing any more but ruins presenting some portions of walls and turns.

The origin of the castle goes back to the year 1200 when the family Grafen von Frohburg, in her expansion in southern direction, makes it build the castles of Birseck to consolidate the sides of her territory.

In 1245, the three castles are absorbed by the évêché of Basle and Burg Birseck becomes one of the residences of the prince-bishops of Basle. At the end of the 13th century, the Pape is placed there by the bishop Heinrich von Neuenburg. The castle is touched hard at the time of the Earthquake of Basle of 1356 is mortgaged with the Ramstein family of 1373 with 1435 following what he is entrusted to the Baillif diocese.

Rebuilt and restored with 15th and 17th centuries, it is again used as residence by the bishop Jacques Christophe Blarer de Wartensee when it carries out the Counter-Reformation in the area. Its successors take refuge there during the Guerre Thirty Year old, giving up their main home threatened of Porrentruy.

Thereafter, during the 18th century, the castle is left with the abandonment, so much so that the Landvogt Karl von Andlau makes move the seat of the baillage castle at the village in 1763. In 1793, it is partially burned by the peasants in revolt, then, the following year, sold with the biddings before being used like career.

In 1808, the ruins are bought by Conrad von Andlau, the son of Karl, which restores it completely. The castle is today the property of the Fondation Stiftung Ermitage Arlesheim und Schloss Birseck which has and manages also the English Jardin of the city.

Sources

Article '' Birseck (strong castles) '' of the Swiss historical Dictionary

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