Sarasinpark, Basel

Sarasinpark is a park in the style of an English landscape park from the mid-19th century with an area of about 1,200 m² in Riehen, Canton Basel-Stadt in Switzerland. It is located north of the old village center, directly opposite the Fondation Beyeler.

Originally, the area was used for agriculture and had several farmhouses and vineyards. They have been succeeded by the farm and coach buildings of the country estates, some of which are still standing. The Sarasin Park, created in 1766, unites the grounds of three baroque country estates of the Werthemann-Stähelin, Le Grand and Elbs-Birr families.

The Elbs-Birr estate was built in 1694/95 as a vineyard by Daniel Elbs-Birr. Samuel Heusler expanded the building into a Baroque country estate with a cour d'honneur, which also exists at the Iselin-Weberschen estate. An avenue of lime trees has been preserved from the Baroque period. For a time, the president of the Basel City Council, Hieronymus Bischoff, who was the first president of the Riehen Deaconess House from 1852, owned the Elbs-Birr estate.

In the entrance area of the main building, ceiling paintings were uncovered by the preservation of historical monuments, which were hidden under the later baroque stucco ceilings. The building has been owned by the municipality of Riehen since 1976, was renovated and now serves as a public music school.

In the early 1980s, Sarasinpark was the subject of various discussions. Its area was to be used for a new municipal hospital or a swimming pool. To date, however, nothing of the sort has been built. For several years now, the park has been gradually restored to its original basic structure. Among other things, formerly existing curved paths are being reconstructed, which can still be seen on old plans of the park. An orangery has been restored and is now available for upscale events. A pond lies at its feet.

The municipality makes the circus site available in particular to those organizers who can prove a relationship with Riehen. In the interest of the residents, care is taken that the number of events does not exceed a reasonable level.

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