Sissacherfluh Castle

Weir Sissacherfluh, access gate from the inside ( March 2010)

The refuge Sissacherfluh is a fortification in Ergolztal in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft.

Location

Less than 2 kilometers from Sissach on the rocks of the highly visible Sissacher rock face are the remains of Sanctuary Sissacherfluh. The system is protected on the south-east, south and west sides by vertical cliffs and steep terrain. It is of Sissach or the bus station Sissacherfluh ago to reach to hiking and walking trails and offers a magnificent view to the Alps ( lookout point with panoramic panel).

Plant and History

The weir Sissacherfluh has been used for thousands of years in several phases: According to the traces of previous installations have been greatly disturbed. Roughly prove the following useful and expansion periods:

• A first use is likely to be carried out in the late Bronze Age. Of these, a few remnants of post houses were discovered in the western part of the plant.
• The primary use was probably in the early Middle Ages: A 2 -meter thick defense wall ( double shell with earth fill ) was built on the gently sloping north side to protect the whole area of ​​2.8 hectares with gate and tower on the northern corners. This must have been far higher than today can imagine the conserved residues, because at regular intervals staircase pillars were added on the inside, which allowed the rapid Manning battlements on the wall. ( Residential) tower of the fortification Sissacherfluh (March 2010) The tower in the northern corner had a ground-level access and was perhaps even habitable. More Torspuren in the northern foreland of the system even allow the presumption of a massive but unfinished enlargement of Sanctuary arise.
• The last use from the Thirty Years' War: As part of the federal warning and reporting system, a Hochwacht was built. From this wall rectangles are still standing near the rock face at the viewpoint. This Hochwacht was probably protected by the now flattened, but still clearly visible double wall around the outermost end of the rock face: Meyer believed that this double wall already existed in the early Middle Ages and was put in order again for Hochwacht.

Since the essential parts of the system come from prehistoric times ( no written evidence ), little is known about the history. In 1936 the plant - as part of the cantonal labor camp ( employment program for unemployed) - extensively excavated, which proved to be difficult and expensive because of the large area.