Schloss Ebenrain, Sissach, Switzerland

Schloss Ebenrain is a former country residence in Sissach. Built in 1774-1776, it is considered the most significant late baroque residence in northwestern Switzerland. It is now a public facility and the site of an agricultural school.

Schloss Ebenrain was built as a summer residence for the wealthy Basel silk ribbon manufacturer and trader Martin Bachofen and his family. The Basel architect Samuel Werenfels designed the building. Bachofen intended at first to build a modest country residence, but changed his plans and built a luxurious estate. The gardens to the north and south of the residence were designed by Bernese architect Niklaus Sprüngli. Both gardens were converted to fashionable English parks in the early 19th century, but one landscape feature, namely the parallel rows of lindens lining the drive to the house, has remained essentially unchanged to the present day.

Since the elevation of a highway in 1967, Schloss Ebenrain and its park appear to be cut off from the town of Sissach. The residence is still accessible on foot or by bicycle, however, and the route from the Sissach train station to Ebenrain is marked by signposts.

References:

Wikipedia

Palaces, manors and town halls in Switzerland

User Reviews

Joshua Fluri (9 months ago)
Nice castle with a large park to play

Silvia Viola (16 months ago)
NO PUBLIC BUILDING. You can stroll through the garden, but the castle is only open for events such as on the same day. So it is not a museum that can be visited at certain opening times. We were there on the same day. The castle is now 245 years old, but very little of the original inventory (be it furniture, lamps or stucco, but also floors, etc.) has been preserved in my view of the history of the arts. That was a little disappointing for me. There is certainly history and tales to tell for a 245-year-old building, but it is not accessible to visitors when walking around. The floor plan on the ground floor is almost the only thing that has remained on the whole. The other floors have been modified for modern purposes. On the other hand, the restoration is visually successful, the rooms are all very well maintained, so you still have the feeling of being in a little gem. I can imagine that the castle is certainly very good for small marriage celebrations, private events, conferences and cultural events. Not only are many rooms designed for this, the internal kitchen is also equipped to cater for larger groups. I would also like to have visited the flanking buildings that belong to the castle. But they're probably (that's just my guess) offices and / or homes.

Tatiana Khisamudinova (21 months ago)
Beautiful place!

Mala Vila (2 years ago)
Nice place for walking and enjoy in beautiful view. Parking space next to the Schloss. Cow and chicken farm next to the Schloss.

Pedro Torres Cobas (2 years ago)
Nice place to visit

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A programme of restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1874. The castle suffered due to bombardment during the Second World War in the battle for the Falaise pocket in 1944, but the three keeps were unscathed.

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