Birseck Castle is also known as the Lower or Front Castle. In addition to this castle, there were three others. The Upper Birseck Castle (Reichenstein Castle) is still well-preserved. In contrast, little more than heavily dilapidated ruins remain of the Middle and Rear Castles.
The origins of the castles likely date back to the Counts of Frohburg in the mid-12th century. They planned to expand into the southern Sisgau region. In 1239, Bishop Lüthold of Basel purchased the castle hill from the Niedermünster Abbey. In 1243–44, he built what is now Birseck Castle. In 1245, Ludwig von Frohburg relinquished the castles of Birseck and Reichenstein. The castle sustained extensive damage as a result of the earthquake in 1356. Birseck Castle was pledged to the Lords of Ramstein in 1373. The castle was expanded in the 15th and 17th centuries.
The castle began to fall into disrepair in the 18th century, when it was no longer properly maintained. In 1763, Karl von Andlau moved his residence to the nearby village. In 1793, during the French Revolution, some parts of the castle were destroyed by drunken peasants. The ruins were auctioned off as national property in 1794 and used as a quarry. In 1808, Karl von Andlau’s son purchased the ruins and rebuilt them in the Neo-Gothic style.
In 2000, the northern section of the perimeter wall partially collapsed. Some parts of the complex were also at risk of collapse. As a result, the first restoration measures were undertaken. A second phase of restoration followed in 2005, during which an archaeological structural analysis was also conducted.
Today, the castle belongs to the Ermitage Arlesheim and Schloss Birseck Foundation. You can take the BLT Tram No. 10 all the way to Arlesheim (Arlesheim Dorf station). From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk.
(Content from https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burg_Birseck)
