Villa Merian

Villa Merian is a manor house with neoclassical features positioned on an elevated site above Brüglingen near the Birs river, distinguished by its symmetrical form and gently sloped hipped roof. The estate includes several historic outbuildings, among them a mill from the 15th century and a residential structure from the 16th century.

The original baroque structure was built in 1711 by Alexander Löffler but underwent major renewal in the early 1800s when neoclassical styling was introduced. The polygonal towers were removed during this 1801 transformation, completely reshaping the building's exterior appearance.

The villa and its surrounding grounds show how a wealthy family once lived in this region, combining refined architecture with practical farm buildings that served the property. Visitors can see how such estates mixed elegant living spaces with working agricultural structures.

Access to the property and gardens depends on current renovation phases, so planning a visit in advance is advisable. The site is easily reached on foot from Münchenstein, and its location near the Birs river makes it pleasant to explore the surrounding area.

A medieval mill still stands on the property, operating in earlier times as part of the working estate, while a farmhouse added in 1837 completes the ensemble. This mix of structures reflects how the property expanded and evolved over several centuries.

Location: Münchenstein

Inception: 1711

Architects: Melchior Berri

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Part of: list of cultural properties in Münchenstein

Address: Unterbrüglingen 1–9, 4052 Basel

GPS coordinates: 47.53750,7.61440

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:27