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Muttenz History |
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THE WARTENBERG AND ITS THREE CITADELSWarte = Observatory
Findings revealed that, as early as the Bronze Age (1800-800 BC), the Wartenberg was populated. The Romans(50 BC - 260 AD) had erected watch-towers for the surveillance and security of the military road, leading from the Alsace to Augusta Raurica and farther into the country, as they had recognized the excellent strategic location of the Wartenberg. The first of the three Citadels topping the Wartenberg was presumably constructed in the 9th century, whereas the other two date back to the l2th century. Practically nothing is known of the inhabitants in that early epoch.
From 1306 through 1515, the Hapsburg dynasty of Austria functioned as sovereigns also over Muttenz, including Kleinrhein-felden (now Birsfelden). In 1289, the three sons of Earl Ludwig I of Homberg, who all lived in Rapperswil on the lake of Zürich, became owner of the Citadels on the Wartenberg through a heritage of their mother's. None of this Homberg family, however, inhabited the Citadels but lent them to their managers, the 'Marschalken'. After Ludwig I of Homberg had been killed in a battle near Bern, his three sons sold the Citadels to the two brothers Chuno & Hugo zer Sunnen from Basle at a price of 300 Silver Mark. This deal took place on January 13, 1301. Since Chuno and Hugo could not make the money available, the city of Basle disbursed it on their behalf. In 1371, through another heritage, the Citadels changed into the hands of the Münch dynasty, who ruled, as Prefects, over Muttenz and Münchenstein jointly for generations. The Münchs, however, chose to live in the Citadel of Münchenstein, which was built by their ancestor Conrat in 1270, hence giving up the Citadels on the Wartenberg. After the earthquake of 1356, these began to fall into ruins. People from Muttenz helped themselves to stones and whatever they could use from the Citadels. Over 500 years, no-one cared about the ruins. Then, in 1929, some people, interested in history and archeology, came together and founded the 'Burgen Komitee' - the Citadels' Committee. In the three years of crisis that followed, the committee engaged some unemployed young men and made them do restoration work. On May 2, 1935, the first Wartenberg feast took place. An organization committee invited the public to visit the ruins. St. Arbogast church and the ruins were decked out with flags. In the afternoon, the Wartenberg was literally black with people. In 1939, after World War II had broken out, the excellent strategic location of the Wartenberg, from where vast extensions of French and German frontier-land can be overseen, was once more remembered. The Wartenberg was declared a 'fortification zone', secluded from the public by barbed-wire entanglements. Bunkers and tank-bars were erected. Within the ruins, the troops installed observation posts and antiaircraft defense. In one of the Citadels, the soldiers built underground lodgings - and the ancient four meters deep cistern was laid free and taken back into operation. The antique objects, above all ceramics of the Bronze Age, the Roman Era and Middle Ages that the soldiers came across, are now displayed at the 'Kantons-Museum' in Liestal. In 1941, the soldiers repaired the Citadel gate and a good piece of the wall with ashlar from the Jura. Under the sponsorship of the newly founded 'Pro Wartenberg', new restoration work was undertaken in 1950. On sunny Sundays, from spring to autumn, a Swiss flag greets onlookers from the middle Citadel. Nowadays the North-West slope of the Wartenberg, ranks as the finest residential area of Muttenz. Further to the South, vinegrapes are still grown. On Carnival's eve, each year, a big bon-fire is lit near the ruins when night is dawning. Hundreds of school-children light their torches at the bon-fire and - as they proceed down-hill - look like an enormous glow-worm.
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