Zwingen Castle
Switzerland, canton of Basel Land, Zwingen.
Description:
The first mention of Zwingen Castle (or Zinwigen, Zinwigen) dates back to 1194 and is associated with the name of Pope Celestine III. By 1312 there are records that the castle, founded by Barons of the Ramstein family, had a barrage moat. After the Ramstein family was lost, the possessions passed to the prince-bishop of Basel.
Serious changes in the life of Zwingen Castle were made by the French Revolution of the XVIII century, which shocked the whole of Europe. In 1792 the castle was nationalized, and in 1793 the bishopric of Basel merged with France. Over the following years, Zwingen's owners changed several times. In 1974, the castle became the center of the cultural community, created with the aim of preserving and developing historical and cultural traditions and holding cultural and leisure events. The club, which unites lovers of history and architecture, takes part in the financing of restoration and repair works on the territory of the medieval knight's castle Zwingen.