Binningen Castle

Binningen, Switzerland

Schloss Binningen was built in the 1290s, originally as a moated castle. Two earthquakes destroyed the foundation walls, and the castle was almost burned to the ground. The castle was rebuilt as of 1414 but destroyed again in the wake of the Battle of St. Jakob in 1444. Over time, the castle has had several owners. A chronological list of the owners, along with their coats of arms, is displayed in the castle's gallery. The castle has belonged to the municipality of Binningen since 1960. Schloss Binningen is now home to a hotel and a well-known restaurant.

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Address

Schlossgasse 5, Binningen, Switzerland
See all sites in Binningen

Details

Founded: 1290s
Category: Castles and fortifications in Switzerland

More Information

www.basel.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Renata Godoy (6 months ago)
So beautiful!
Irene C.C. Kaufmann (10 months ago)
Went to there for the annual Kitchenparty....great ambience, delicious quaint food from top chefs around Switzerland, wines were good and the DJ was the best!! It is a charming castle with many different halls....did not stay at the hotel. Very well located next to the tram station and one could reach the city in 5 minutes.
Roland Bellwald (17 months ago)
Great service, fantastic food, good menu options!
Kevin Lancashire (2 years ago)
We enjoyed a delicious dinner and the atmosphere. The setting is rather unique.
Krzysztof T. K (2 years ago)
Nice all castle. Today a wedding registration office and probably a restaurant.
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Historic Site of the week

Hochosterwitz Castle

Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles. The rock castle is one of the state's landmarks and a major tourist attraction.

The site was first mentioned in an 860 deed issued by King Louis the German of East Francia, donating several of his properties in the former Principality of Carantania to the Archdiocese of Salzburg. In the 11th century Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg ceded the castle to the Dukes of Carinthia from the noble House of Sponheim in return for their support during the Investiture Controversy. The Sponheim dukes bestowed the fiefdom upon the family of Osterwitz, who held the hereditary office of the cup-bearer in 1209.

In the 15th century, the last Carinthian cup-bearer, Georg of Osterwitz was captured in a Turkish invasion and died in 1476 in prison without leaving descendants. So after four centuries, on 30 May 1478, the possession of the castle reverted to Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg.

Over the next 30 years, the castle was badly damaged by numerous Turkish campaigns. On 5 October 1509, Emperor Maximilian I handed the castle as a pledge to Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg, then Bishop of Gurk. Bishop Lang undertook a substantial renovation project for the damaged castle.

About 1541, German king Ferdinand I of Habsburg bestowed Hochosterwitz upon the Carinthian governor Christof Khevenhüller. In 1571, Baron George Khevenhüller acquired the citadel by purchase. He fortified to deal with the threat of Turkish invasions of the region, building an armory and 14 gates between 1570 and 1586. Such massive fortification is considered unique in citadel construction.

Since the 16th century, no major changes have been made to Hochosterwitz. It has also remained in the possession of the Khevenhüller family as requested by the original builder, George Khevenhüller. A marble plaque dating from 1576 in the castle yard documents this request.

A specific feature is the access way to the castle passing through a total of 14 gates, which are particularly prominent owing to the castle's situation in the landscape. Tourists are allowed to walk the 620-metre long pathway through the gates up to the castle; each gate has a diagram of the defense mechanism used to seal that particular gate. The castle rooms hold a collection of prehistoric artifacts, paintings, weapons, and armor, including one set of armor 2.4 metres tall, once worn by Burghauptmann Schenk.

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