Brüglingen

Brüglingen in Münchenstein, on the edge of Basel, is a former estate of the Merian family that now forms a large park complex known as the Merian Gardens. It lies in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and brings together botanical gardens, a public park, a historic villa and small museums.

What is Brüglingen?

The name refers both to the historic farmstead and to the green spaces around it. Today the area covers the Merian Gardens, an open recreational park and the old mill buildings. The botanical gardens were founded in 1968 by the University of Basel on land made available by the Christoph Merian Foundation, and the whole site was called Merian Park until 2006.

How did the estate come about?

The Merian family used Brüglingen as a summer retreat from the early 19th century. Villa Merian dates to 1711, when Alexander Löffel built a small country manor. A columned portico and the first garden were added around 1800, and a later Second Empire remodelling gave the house its current look. In 1824 Christoph Merian received the estate from his parents as a wedding gift and turned it into a model farm. The couple had no children, so the property passed to the Christoph Merian Foundation, which still owns it.

What can you see here?

• Gardens and park. The site became widely known in 1980, when it hosted Grün 80, the second Swiss garden exhibition, with around 3.5 million visitors. The park is officially called Park im Grünen, yet locals still say Grün 80. It is open around the clock.
• Villa Merian. The historic house and its garden, which according to available information holds a café.
• Water Mill Museum. The Brüglingen mill is first recorded in 1259 and worked until 1925. Since 1966 it has housed a museum on milling.
• Coach and Carriage Museum. A collection run by the Historical Museum of Basel.

How do you get there?

Brüglingen sits on the outskirts of Basel in the municipality of Münchenstein and is reachable from the city centre by public transport. Check current timetables with local operators before you go.

When should you visit?

The park is open all year, but the gardens look best from spring to autumn when plants are in bloom. Opening hours for the botanical gardens and museums are best checked on their official websites.

Frequently asked questions

Is Brüglingen the same as the Merian Gardens? Brüglingen is the name of the historic estate and its surroundings. The Merian Gardens were laid out on its grounds.

Who created the estate? The Merian family owned it from the early 19th century, and Christoph Merian developed it into a model farm after 1824.

What was Grün 80? It was the second Swiss garden exhibition, held in 1980, and part of the site still carries the nickname.

Is entry to the park paid? The park is open around the clock. Check access rules for the gardens and museums with their operators.