Restoration Pfeffingen castle ruin
Pfeffingen, Switzerland
Project 2011-
Execution in stages 2013-2017
Castle
ruin.
Overview
Client
Kanton Basel-Landschaft, Bildungs-, Kultur- und Sportdirektion, Archäologie Baselland, Switzerland
Site supervision
ZPF Ingenieure, Basel, Switzerland
Contractor
Rofra AG, Aesch, Switzerland
Ecological supervision
Guido Mase, oekoskop AG, Basel, Switzerland
Team ZPF
Rafael Häni, Susanne Peterson, Sali Sadikaj
The ruins of Pfeffingen Castle are among the largest castle ruins in the canton Basel-Country and constitute a monument of national significance. In recent years, they were found to be seriously damaged in various places, which not only threatened the historical structure, but also posed a danger for visitors, so a comprehensive general reconstruction was planned.
After preparatory work in 2011 and 2012, construction work began in May 2013, overseen by ZPF Ingenieure. As the lime mortar that is used here can only be worked with when there is no frost, i.e. in the warmer half of the year, the work will take around six years. As the largest and most seriously damaged part of the ruins, the residential tower is to be reconstructed first. Here, there is a particular focus on sealing the coping and structurally securing unstable sections. The goal of the work is to repair the existing damage and to preserve the historical structure. In addition, the castle grounds are to be made more attractive and equipped with new access bridges. A total sum of 6.9 million CHF has been approved for the work.
The castle is divided into four sections: the residential tower, the western outer bailey, the western zwinger and the northern outer bailey. Nothing remains of the first and second castles, which were built overlooking the village around the year 1000 and towards the end of the 12th century, respectively. The residential tower that exists today was built in the 1380s by Count von Thierstein. In the second half of the 16th century, the Bishop of Basel arranged an impressive enlargement of the castle, adding two twin-tower gates.
From the mid-18th century onwards, the castle was no longer maintained and became increasingly dilapidated until it was eventually sold as a quarry. In the 19th century, the romantic ruins served as a popular motif for numerous artists.
After part of the residential tower's western wall collapsed in 1867, the escarpments were secured, various window openings were stabilised and a rupture in the eastern wall was closed up. Comprehensive restoration work was carried out from 1931 onwards. After this was finished, repairs were often necessary, mainly involving the residential tower and shield wall.