Dorneck

History

Located on a rock projection overhanging the valley of the Birse at the east of Dornach, the castle-extremely is built at the 11th century and is mentioned for the first time in 1360.

Probably built by the Pfeffingen family, it becomes property of the counts de Soyhières at the 12th century then, about 1200, of the counts de Thierstein. In 1306, the count Sigmund de Thierstein-Farnsburg yields it to the Habsbourg - Austria, which give it to him in hereditary stronghold. Following the costs generated by the Battle of Sempach, Habsbourgs are mortaged the castle to Henmann von Efringen in 1394. In 1485, the family of Efringen sells it with Soleure which acquires full sovereignty in of it 1502 and makes of it the seat of a Bailliage which includes/understands, in addition to Dornach, Bättwil, Büren, Gempen, Hochwald, Hofstetten-Flüh, Metzerlen-Mariastein, Nuglar-Sankt Pantaleon, Rodersdorf, Seewen and Witterswil.

During the War of Souabe of 1499, the castle is attacked by the imperial troops which threaten to take it by storm before the confederated troops do not release it at the time of the Bataille of Dornach. In the following years, the town of Soleure reinforces and maintains carefully the castle, thus showing its attachment with its possessions of the north of the Jura threatened by the wills bâloises.

The castle is still the theater of confrontations at the time of the war of the Peasants of 1525 and at the time of the Thirty Year old Guerre before being practically destroyed by the French troops during the invasion of 1798. Declared quite national, it becomes property of the commune of Dornach which tries (without success) to sell it with the biddings and leaves it with the abandonment. In 1902, the citizens of the commune make of it gift with the Canton of Soleure which made there carry out work of release and restoration between 1903 and 1906, classifies it like historic building in 1935 after one second series of work. For lack of money, the rebuilding envisaged could include only in the Années 1970.

Plan of the castle

Sources

Article Dorneck of the Swiss historical Dictionary
Article the castle Dorneck Dornach

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