Ebenrain Castle

Ebenrain Castle is a country estate with surrounding gardens in Sissach in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft. It is considered by art history to be the most significant late Baroque country seat in Northwest Switzerland.

Ebenrain Castle was built in the years 1774/76 for the Basel silk ribbon manufacturer and merchant Martin Bachofen (1727–1814) according to plans by the Basel Baroque architect Samuel Werenfels (1720–1800). The associated late Baroque gardens north and south of the building were designed by the Bernese architect Niklaus Sprüngli (1725–1802). Before 1805 – with the exception of a lime tree avenue in the central axis that still exists today – the southern garden was transformed into a landscape garden of the late style phase, and between 1817 and 1821, the northern garden section as well. After 1872, some alterations were made to the castle and the park was redesigned and expanded according to plans by the Parisian garden architect Édouard André (1840–1911). At the beginning of the 20th century, a "re-Baroquisation" took place, followed by a comprehensive renovation between 1934 and 1942. Since 1951, the castle complex has been owned by the Canton of Basel-Landschaft and is used for art exhibitions, concerts, and lectures. From 1986 to 1989, the castle was renovated again.