Farnsburg

Farnsburg is a Castle-extremely in ruins located today on the commune of Ormalingen, in Suisse.

History

The castle is founded towards 1330 by the counts de Thierstein. It then constitutes the center of a seigneurery which includes the villages of Arisdorf, Buus, Diepflingen, Gelterkinden, Hemmiken, Kilchberg, Maisprach, Ormalingen, Rickenbach, Rünenberg, Tecknau, Wenslingen, Wintersingen and Zeglingen. It is then known under the names of Varsperg or Varnsberg .

After the disappearance of the Thierstein family, the castle became towards 1350 the residence of the Thierstein-Farnsburg branch then, after 1418 that of the barons de Falkenstein. Hans and Thomas de Falkenstein join the family of the Habsbourg of Austria in 1440 and actively take part in their side with the Ancienne war of Zurich on July 22nd, 1443. In particular, Falkenstein take the town of Brugg and put fire at it. Like reprisals, in 1444, a troop of Confederated in vain besieges the castle before being made destroy with the Bataille of Saint-Jacques-on-the-Birse).

The war carried out by Basle against the noble ones supporting Habsbourg leads gradually to the political and economic ruin of the family of Falkenstein which must sell the castle and the seigniory at the town of Basle in 1461 which transforms it into Bailliage.

To 15th and 16th centuries, this baillage initially identical to the seigniory, extends to the villages from Zunzgen, Sissach, Böckten, Tenniken, Diegten, Eptingen and Itingen. It is at that time only that it takes the name of Farnsburg. After the baillif last evacuates the castle, it is burnt the local peasants in 1798 before being used as Carrière.

Structure

The castle is built on a homonymous hill. Its accessible slope was protected by a ditch, the other being drawn up on a projecting spur. The current ruin still presents a wall shield, the wall enclosing as well as a advanced Barbacane which protects the gate.

Reproductions and plans of 18th and 18th centuries have allowed reconsituer the probable architecture of the old building.

Sources

Farnsburg Article on the Swiss historical Dictionary

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