Schlössli Aarau

Schlössli Aarau
The Schlössli was built outside the city of Aarau in the 13th century and is therefore the oldest building in the historic old town.
Originally, during the High Middle Ages, the Schlössli was said to have the function of a defensive tower. This was used to monitor the nearby Aare crossing. Since the tower was only built shortly before the city was founded, it is assumed that it was planned together with the city layout.
The building was first mentioned in 1334. In the following centuries, its owners changed constantly. Until the middle of the 16th century, knightly families lived there, while later middle-class families found a home in the Schlössli.
Today, the Schlössli houses the city museum, which is home to exciting temporary exhibitions, events, museum education and workshops.
Text / Source: aarau info, Metzgergasse 2, 5000 Aarau
aargautourismus.ch/erleben/schloesser-burgen/schloessli-aarau

The core of the complex is a well-preserved, 25-meter-high medieval residential tower. It is made of limestone and roughly hewn boulders stacked on top of each other (megalithic masonry). Its square floor plan has a side length of 11.25 meters. The original masonry has been preserved up to a height of 17 meters. From the second floor onwards, the corners of the building have a rough edge. In the south wall, the windows of the second and third floors are in the late Gothic style. The top floor was added in 1790 and was originally plastered. It is topped off with a hipped roof. On the north side of the Schlössli, a palace from the late 13th or early 14th century has been added. Its base floor has a similar wall thickness to the tower, but the two upper floors are significantly thinner. Above this, there is a hipped roof. The stair tower on the east side also dates from 1790. It can be reached via a covered wooden bridge from the 19th century, which spans the former moat.In the immediate vicinity is the Haus zum Schlossgarten, which served as the seat of government of the Helvetic Republic in 1798 and today houses the Forum Schlossplatz.

An absolute highlight, it takes time including the museum.