Münchenstein: Gardens, Art and History

Münchenstein brings together themes of riverside landscapes, horticulture, art and architectural history. The municipality is located in the Arlesheim district of the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland and stretches along both banks of the Birs. The municipality’s land area is reported to comprise 56 percent built-up areas, 24 percent forest and 17 percent agricultural land. Alongside the Birs, these proportions offer another perspective on the town: built-up areas, forest and agricultural land are all named components of the municipality’s territory.

Gardens and Landscape

The Merian Gardens are located in the Brüglinger Ebene and cover 18 hectares as a botanical garden. Their different areas include a historic English garden and nature conservation areas. The contrast between the landscaped garden and the nature conservation areas gives visitors two distinct thematic focal points. Many paths in the Merian Gardens are wheelchair accessible. If specific sections of the paths are important for your plans, check the accessibility information before travelling.

The market stall at the Merian Gardens sells vegetables of rare varieties, sun-ripened fruit, eggs, honey and seasonal specialities. The availability of seasonal products may vary. Grün 80 is also connected to the theme of garden and landscape design: in 1980, Münchenstein was the host municipality for the second Swiss Garden and Landscape Design Exhibition, held in the Brüglinger Ebene.

Art and Outreach

The Schaulager was founded in 2003 with the aim of bringing together the storage and display of contemporary art. The permanent installations in the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation collection are stored there and are open to the public during Schaulager exhibitions. Their visibility therefore depends on the exhibition programme. In addition, the Schaulager offers public tours in German and English every month. Check the dates before your visit and choose one that suits your plans.

Kunsthaus Baselland presents regional, national and international contemporary art in a converted factory building. It offers artists a platform of more than 1,400 m² for solo, group and themed exhibitions. While the Schaulager focuses on combining storage with public display, Kunsthaus Baselland foregrounds its range of exhibitions and its platform in the factory building. Kunsthaus Baselland is wheelchair accessible; access is via a ramp at the entrance on Helsinki-Strasse. Check the access information before travelling if accessibility is important to your plans.

The HEK complements the art offerings with participatory programmes on art, media and technology for children, young people and adults. The offerings may change. Compared with the public tours at the Schaulager, the HEK focuses on participation. The ways of engaging with art therefore differ: exhibitions and tours sit alongside programmes that invite visitors to take part.

History and Other Venues

The Trotte was built in 1470 at the foot of the castle rock and expanded in the mid-16th century. Münchenstein Castle was built around 1270 as a castle belonging to the noble Münch family. The family later took the name von Münchenstein, giving the village its name. Visible sections of the castle walls remain above the old village centre. For safety reasons, Münchenstein Castle Ruins are closed off by a gate and can be reached by public transport or car. Take this closure into account when planning your visit.

The Kuspo Bruckfeld offers a different focus from gardens and art: the multipurpose hall serves culture and sport and has facilities for a range of events. This makes it easy to distinguish the themes for your stay: gardens and landscape, contemporary art, historic buildings, or culture and sport.

Discover more destinations: Schönenbuch, Muttenz, Oberwil, Reinach, Binningen, Aesch, Allschwil, Ettingen

For the overview of the wider region: Arlesheim.