Waldegg Castle

Waldegg Castle is one of the most impressive and magnificent Baroque castles in Switzerland. Architecture, garden art and history merge here to create an unique experience. Discover the richly decorated rooms of the museum, stroll through the blooming gardens and enjoy Baroque delicacies in our café. 

The Baroque summer palace at the gates of Solothurn 

The Solothurn patrician's son, Johann Viktor von Besenval, laid eyes on the most magnificent castles in Europe on his Grand Tour at the beginning of the 1660s. Twenty years later, and well on his way to becoming the most influential man in Solothurn, he set about achieving his dream of having his own castle. Inspired by French and Italian models, he had a total work of art in the Baroque style built just outside of town: Waldegg Castle, one of the most striking Baroque castles in Switzerland, with magnificent gardens and avenues extending far into the surrounding landscape. 

In 1865, Josef von Sury-Büssy acquired Waldegg, and made the summer residence habitable all year round. Today, the site is owned as a public foundation by the Canton of Solothurn. After much restoration and reconstruction work, this monument of great national importance has been open to the public since 1991. 

The museum 

With its richly decorated salons, extensive collection of magnificent paintings and original castle furniture, the museum vividly illustrates the French-inspired lifestyle of the Solothurn elite in the 17th and 18th centuries. A room furnished as a cosy living room celebrates the last private owners of Waldegg, the von Sury family. Here you can immerse yourself in castle life in the 20th century. The two castle chapels and a historic bathtub are other highlights of the visit. Temporary themed exhibitions complete the castle visit experience. 

The gardens 

The various gardens are what make Waldegg Castle so particularly charming. One of the first Baroque gardens in Switzerland, designed in the French style, was created here - a magnificent, purely symmetrical design with perfectly pruned shrubbery, stone columns and obelisks. A path from the garden leads up an impressive flight of steps to an avenue of lime trees 500 metres long. 

In the orangery parterre, the scent of blossoming lemon, orange and pomegranate trees carries you away to Mediterranean climes. More than 160 different varieties of vegetables, fruit and flowers grow in the kitchen garden, many of which are ProSpecieRara varieties. And in the wildflower meadow, bees and other insects find their food.

A place of encounters and culture 

Waldegg Castle is the centre for culture and for gatherings in the canton of Solothurn. The diverse cultural offerings range from guided tours and concerts to opera, theatre performances and scientific lectures. Activities for school classes, senior citizens and groups round off the programme.

Excursions around Waldegg Castle 

Waldegg Castle lies in the heart of the idyllic recreational area of Solothurn, the most beautiful Baroque town in Switzerland. Here, there are many opportunities for walking, hiking or cycling. For example, a visit to the castle can be perfectly combined with a walk into the Verena Gorge with its hermitage. On Saturday mornings, a visit to the weekly market in the beautiful old town of Solothurn is a must. The cycle path from Solothurn to Biel follows along the River Aare, first to the stork nests in Altreu, then through the unique cultural and natural landscape of Grenchen Witi. Solothurn is also a perfect starting point for a boat trip along the Aare to Lake Biel. 

Hire out Waldegg Castle 

The castle grounds can also be hired for private events, whether for weddings and family celebrations, company events or seminars. With its halls, barn, orangery and its gardens, Waldegg Castle offers a wide range of possibilities for events in a unique setting and inspiring environment.