former Muri-Amthof

The former Muri-Amthof in Bremgarten (canton of Aargau) was the town base of Muri Abbey and ranks among the most important historic buildings in the old town above the Reuss. The complex stands on Antonigasse, at numbers 2 and 4, and is listed as a monument of national significance. It makes a worthwhile stop on any walk through the historic centre.

What was the Muri-Amthof?

For centuries the Amthof served two purposes. A monastic official lived here and managed the abbey's affairs in the surrounding area. The abbots of Muri also stayed here when they travelled to Bremgarten, so the house doubled as lodging for senior clergy. The abbey itself lies some distance away, which made the town house a useful local foothold.

The earliest documented mention dates from 1367. In 1399 the abbey acquired the plots in town, and the layout of the estate largely took shape at that point. A bailiff's house therefore stood here by the early fifteenth century. The chronicler Schodoler describes it as a cube-shaped masonry building under a hipped roof.

How did the building change over time?

The present main house dates from 1546 to 1548, when Abbot Laurenz von Heidegg had it rebuilt. Between 1580 and 1584 an entrance hall and a spiral staircase (a Wendelstein) were added to the eastern gable front. These Renaissance features set the Amthof apart from the buildings around it.

What does the complex include?

The Amthof is more than a single house. The Aargau heritage inventory records separate entries for:

• the main house with its chapel tower (Kapellenturm) at Antonigasse 2,
• a tower with a connecting gallery and a tithe barn at Antonigasse 4,
• the garden with its walls and gates at Antonigasse 2.

Together they show a working monastic estate rather than a lone town house.

How is it protected?

The cantonal listing dates from 1951 and federal protection followed in 1984. The inventory rates it Priority A, meaning national importance, and it appears in the Swiss inventory of cultural property under KGS number 00071. Bremgarten as a whole is also recognised as a site of national significance. Founded by the Habsburgs, the town received its charter around 1240 and was taken by the Swiss Confederates in 1443.

How do you visit the Muri-Amthof?

Combine it with a stroll through Bremgarten's old town, which sits in a loop of the Reuss. The buildings and walls can be seen from Antonigasse. Check with the town before your visit if you hope to see the interior, because the sources we use give no fixed opening hours. Bremgarten is reached by bus or rail from the Zurich and Zug areas, and the old town is explored on foot.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Muri-Amthof? It is the former administrative court of Muri Abbey in Bremgarten. A monastic official lived here, and the abbots used it as lodging when in town.

When was it built? The main building dates from 1546 to 1548 under Abbot Laurenz von Heidegg. The entrance hall and spiral staircase were added in 1580 to 1584, and a bailiff's house already stood on the site in the fifteenth century.

Is it a protected monument? Yes. The canton protected it in 1951 and the Confederation in 1984. It holds the top category, A, for national significance.

Where is it? In the old town of Bremgarten, at Antonigasse 2 and 4, in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland.