Farnsburg Castle (Ruin)

The current Farnsburg was built around 1330 by the Counts of Thierstein, although there are indications of a possible predecessor structure from the early 14th century. The castle was first documented in 1363. It served as the ancestral seat of the Thierstein-Farnsburg sideline, which administered the Landgraviate in Sisgau from here. In 1418, the castle passed by inheritance to the Barons of Falkenstein. During the Old Zurich War, the Falkensteins allied with the Habsburgs around 1440. After an attack on Brugg, they retreated to Farnsburg, which was then besieged by a Swiss army in 1444. However, the siege was ended by the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs. Due to financial difficulties, the Falkensteins sold the Farnsburg dominion to the city of Basel in 1461. The castle was converted into an administrative seat and used as a bailiff's castle. During the Peasants' War in 1653 and again in 1798, the castle was captured and finally set on fire by local people. Afterwards, the ruin served as a quarry and rapidly deteriorated. Extensive excavation and restoration work was carried out between 1930 and 1931, and again in 2002 and 2003.

The Farnsburg ruin is now accessible to visitors. A modern spiral staircase within the shield wall allows ascent to a viewing platform.