Alt-Bechburg Castle (Ruin) (Holderbank)

The origins of Alt-Bechburg Castle date back to the 11th century when it was built by the Barons of Bechburg, a branch of the Counts of Falkenstein. Over the centuries, the complex developed into a joint inheritance castle with various owners. While the rear castle remained in the possession of the Bechburg family, the front castle belonged as a fief to the Bishop of Basel, who in turn enfeoffed it to the Counts of Frohburg, who then passed it on to the Counts of Falkenstein. In the early 14th century, Knight Heinrich von Ifenthal united the two parts by acquiring the front castle in 1325 and the rear castle in 1336. His granddaughter Margreth von Ifenthal sold the entire complex to the city of Solothurn in 1416. The city then leased the castle and the associated Sennhof to private individuals, including the Bloch family, who held the hereditary fief from 1572 to 1668. As their interest was primarily in the Sennhof and funds for maintenance were lacking, the castle gradually fell into disrepair and was already referred to as a “decaying castle” in the 17th century. In 1713, the already ruinous castle was finally destroyed by fire. Between 1936 and 1937, the ruin was excavated and conserved at the initiative of the Historical Society. During the excavations in 1936, a jug containing over 5000 coins was discovered, most of which date from the 12th century and are now exhibited in the Blumenstein Historical Museum.

The Alt-Bechburg ruin is located in the municipality of Holderbank in the canton of Solothurn, in the Thal region, Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of approximately 812 meters above sea level.

The Alt-Bechburg ruin is now accessible to visitors and can be explored.

• Neu-Falkenstein Ruin (Castle), approx. 4.8 km away
• Waldenburg Ruin (Castle), approx. 5.7 km away
• Neu-Bechburg Castle (Castle), approx. 5.7 km away
• Alt-Falkenstein Castle (Castle), approx. 6.7 km away