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Herbal remedies by Burkhard III von Hallwyl

Exhibition – herb garden – events

Burkhard III (1533–1598), a collector of medicinal recipes, dealt with his family’s history and had several alterations and extensions carried out on the castle. He owned an experimental laboratory with distillers and stocks of medicinal products that would have rivalled any apothecary. Around 1580 he published more than 2500 recipes in the ‘Hallweil Book of Medicine’ including the ‘Real Hallwyl Healing Potion’. In 1754 he was mentioned in Leu’s Swiss Encyclopaedia: “Burkhard compiled and left behind the famous so-called Hallweil Book of Medicine”.

The two-part exhibition shows herbal books with recipes from four centuries, herbaria and books of medicine. A contemporary transcript of Burkhard’s book is also on display. The second part shows an old pharmacy with implements. A herbal garden has been planted in the courtyard under the lime tree with various medicinal and culinary herbs and also fragrant plants.

The programme of events includes guided tours, workshops and events with topics such as herbalism, poisons and cooking with wild herbs. Botanical excursions to the nature reserve nearby and a theatre play written specifically highlight Burkhard the person and the subject in general.

On the first day of every month, around 6.30 – 8.30 pm
(and later weather permitting)

Thomas Frei, the curator of Hallwyl Castle, welcomes you to the atmospheric moated castle on the first day of every month. Listen to a presentation on a special cultural topic while tasting wines under the guidance of a wine expert.
The castle café and sometimes the museum are also open.

Successful season
The Museum Aargau sites, Lenzburg, Hallwyl and Habsburg Castles as well as Königsfelden Abbey can look back on a successful season. More than 125,000 visitors experienced history (and stories) in its original setting. The Museum Aargau brought visitors on a search for traces of Habsburg history (and stories) and personalities.

Royal council days, courtly music in honor of two queens, atmospheric dining spectacles and a family tournament where the new king’s crown – no less – was at stake in ‘Habsburgland’. The most moving moments captured throughout the year can now be seen in the new film by Ivan Engler, the director of CARGO. Click here to watch the film

Special activities at the moated castle
Hallwyl Castle can look back on a good season. 50,000 admissions were recorded in the seven months of the 2010 season. Special highlights of the programme were the Mill Days, the castle dance and the improvisational theatre with medieval banquet. Our Sunday visitors were also offered many public guided tours and historical presentations.