Built in 1686 as the summer residence for the Besenval family, the Baroque castle was only two miles from the family's main house in Solothurn's old town. The family's wealth came from the salt trade and the mercenary business with France. As mentioned in earlier post, from 1530-1792 France's ambassador to Switzerland called Solothurn home. Back in those days France would hire mercenaries (soldiers) to help fight its battles. This was very lucrative to those Swiss (like the Besenval family) who could gather up fighters. At one point in 1678 about 25,000 Swiss mercenaries fought for King Louis XlV of France.
This is the left side view of the front (can't get the whole front of castle in one photo as it's too wide).
This is right side of the front.
They had a sense of humor--notice shutters with monkey faces.
This is the long tree-lined drive you drive up to reach castle.
One of the bedrooms.
Closer view of bed.
This is pretty funny. I've been to hundreds of museums and normally placards in multiple languages tell you not to touch or sit plus, pieces of rope are placed across so no one's puts their fanny on the bed or furniture. Here, they've spread dried pointed leaves on the furniture (see bed in previous photo).
View from the upstairs window toward English garden.
Same photo as previous photo as I goofed and to delete photo requires deleting the whole post and starting over.
View to the left from upstairs window. Farmland still surrounds castle.
Garden on backside of castle. In 1963 the Canton of Solothurn took over the property (Switzerland has cantons--similar to states in USA). Members of the founding family still live in the east wing of the castle.
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