Dealing with Castles and Palaces in the Canton of Solothurn

Description

With its over 80 castles and palaces, the canton has an extraordinarily rich architectural heritage. While the ongoing interest in these monuments often focuses on their centuries-old past and the associated historical events and personalities, their more recent history often receives less attention. The end of the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1798 marked a profound change. Bailiff castles became functionless, and patrician mansions also came into bourgeois ownership. The castle romanticism of the 19th century was a counter-movement to rational modernity. Industrialists had their own fantasy castles built, and enthusiasts took care of the decaying castles. The question of how far a ruin should be rebuilt was often debated more passionately than with archaeological knowledge – in the so-called "castle dispute" even in court. Scientific methods for researching monuments only became established during the 20th century. Regardless, every renovation raises the question of which traces of the past should remain visible and which time period shapes the building's appearance. The course provides, using case studies, an overview of the Solothurn castles and palaces and insights into the eventful recent history of their owners and their houses. It also addresses the question of what image of the "Middle Ages" or "Baroque" these buildings convey to their visitors today. Dr. André Schluchter is familiar with the canton’s castle and palace landscape from his previous work as a cultural custodian; he knows the three case studies from his professional practice.

Highlights

• Insight into the recent history of castles and palaces
• Case studies on Alt-Falkenstein, Wartenfels, and Waldegg
• Course at the Solothurn Adult Education Center

General Information

The course offers an overview of the more than 80 castles and palaces in the canton of Solothurn and their eventful history. Using case studies, the development and preservation of these historic buildings are discussed.

Location

Hauptbahnhofstrasse 8, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland

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