Bottmingen Castle, Bottmingen, Switzerland

Dating from the 13th century, Bottmingen castle is one of the few such buildings in Switzerland that are still intact. The first recorded mention dates from 1363, when it was owned by the Kämmerer family. These aristocratic servants to the Bishops of Basel are thought to have built the castle. In 1720, Johannes Deucher transformed the castle into an early-Baroque country manor in the French style. Although this structure has been almost entirely preserved, the basic form of the medieval castle is still visible. Today Schloss Bottmingen makes a wonderful setting for weddings, banquets and other festive occasions.

References:

basel.com

User Reviews

Joanne Warren (7 months ago)
Fabulous food and service. Not cheap but worth every penny.

Nikolay Evstratenko (12 months ago)
Very good restaurant with delicious food and friendly staff.

Felix Keller (12 months ago)
Very nice park. I did not eat at the restaurant, but it looks nice too. There is a not much to do though.

Luke Oeding (16 months ago)
Amazing wine list, very delicious streak, perfectly cooked, excellent service and fantastic atmosphere. Also, very expensive. Worth it.

Vitor dos Santos (16 months ago)
Amazing terrasse! Quiet a distinctive and beautiful environment! Great food and a great service!

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The Château de Chaumont was founded in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois. The purpose was to protect his lands from attacks from his feudal rivals, Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou. On his behalf the Norman Gelduin received it, improved it and held it as his own. His great-niece Denise de Fougère, having married Sulpice d'Amboise, passed the château into the Amboise family for five centuries.

Pierre d'Amboise unsuccessfully rebelled against King Louis XI and his property was confiscated, and the castle was dismantled on royal order in 1465. It was later rebuilt by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465–1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont from 1498–1510, with help from his uncle, Cardinal Georges d'Amboise; some Renaissance features were to be seen in buildings that retained their overall medieval appearance. The château was acquired by Catherine de Medici in 1550. There she entertained numerous astrologers, among them Nostradamus. When her husband, Henry II, died in 1559 she forced his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to exchange Château de Chaumont for Château de Chenonceau which Henry had given to de Poitiers. Diane de Poitiers only lived at Chaumont for a short while.

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The castle has been classified as a Monument historique since 1840 by the French Ministry of Culture. The Château de Chaumont is currently a museum and every year hosts a Garden Festival from April to October where contemporary garden designers display their work in an English-style garden.

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