Landvogteischloss Baden

In 1173, this castle, a building known as the Niderhus, came into the possession of the Counts of Kyburg through inheritance. In 1264 the Habsburgs gradually took over the castle. When the Confederates conquered Aargau in 1415, the Niderhus suffered considerable damage, but was subsequently repaired. It served as the seat of the governor of the county of Baden. In 1484, there were plans to abandon the dilapidated Niderhus and to rebuild the destroyed Stein Castle instead. But finally, two years later, the decision was made in favor of the far less expensive option, the new construction and expansion of the building on the Limmat into the "Landvogteischloss" (governor's castle). In 1490 the extension was completed. In 1579/80, a round stair tower was added on the east side. The governor and his staff were the only reformed inhabitants of Baden at that time. The bastions were demolished again. After the French proclaimed the Helvetic Republic in 1798, the castle lost its purpose. In 1804, it came into the possession of the Canton of Aargau. Three years later, it was bought by the city of Baden and used as a schoolhouse. After 1857 it again served temporarily as a prison. Attempts to auction off the increasingly dilapidated building at a profit failed several times. Finally, in 1909-1912, a comprehensive restoration was carried out to prepare the castle for its future function as a museum. The castle is located at the point the covered wooden bridge leads to the old town on the left side of the river. The centerpiece of the three-story castle is a keep built in the first half of the 12th century from quarry and pebble stones. An extension of the Historical Museum of the City of Baden is housed in the castle. The museum deals with the history of the town from the Romans to the present day, including the development of the baths and industry. The archaeological findings of the region are also presented, and there are also temporary exhibitions on cultural history. The municipal archive are adjacent the museum, where the documents of the municipal administration from 1300 onwards are kept.