Aesch Castle

Aesch Castle was constructed in 1605/06 by the Blarer von Wartensee family, who owed their wealth to the linen trade. Jakob Christoph Blarer von Wartensee, who became a canon in Basel in 1575, played a role in the Counter-Reformation in the Birseck region and promoted his family's influence there. In 1583, he appointed his brother Wolfgang Dietrich Blarer as chief bailiff in Pfeffingen to secure income. Shortly before his death, Jakob Christoph commissioned his nephew Wilhelm Blarer to build Aesch Castle, which was completed in 1607 and gifted to Wilhelm, along with an exemption from all taxes. From 1702, the then chief bailiff Johann Konrad Blarer was permitted to reside at Aesch Castle, and in 1740, the Blarer family completely relocated their center of power there.