Wenkenhof Manor Estate

The Wenkenhof is a historic country estate on the edge of Riehen, the municipality just northeast of Basel on the German border, on a gentle slope that rises toward the hills of Bettingen and Chrischona. It is a fine example of Swiss country-house heritage and belongs to a group of large country houses with gardens that wealthy Basel families built outside the city in the 18th century and later. Its two main buildings, the Alte Wenken (Old Wenken) and the Neue Wenken (New Wenken), face each other across a terraced garden, and they are surrounded by a sizeable park.

The history of the estate goes back to the Middle Ages, long before the present houses. The Wenkenhof grounds were farmland for centuries, and over time the estate passed through several owners, including Basel merchant families, who developed it into a gentleman’s country seat. Alexander Clavel, a Basel industrialist, acquired it in the 19th century, and the Alexander Clavel Foundation, which bears his name, helped secure its public use. The estate is now run in cooperation between the municipality of Riehen and the foundation, so that the public can enjoy the gardens, while the buildings are available for events.

The best-known feature is the French garden in front of the Neue Wenken. Laid out with symmetrical beds, clipped hedges, fountains and axes that lead the eye toward the house, it follows the formal style of the 18th century, and locals sometimes call it Basel’s miniature Versailles. The comparison is of course a joke, as the estate is small, but the order and proportion of the garden are impressive and the terrace gives a view over the town. A less formal English Park lies nearby, with old trees, meadows and walking paths, and the estate has long been used as an open space for relaxed walks. Access to the French garden is not always daily, so check the days the grounds are open before you go, as the public days have been limited in the past.

The estate sits in a district full of cultural attractions. The Fondation Beyeler, the museum for modern and contemporary art in a building by Renzo Piano, is a short walk away, as are the Bäumlihof Manor Estate and the Rehberger-Weg, an art walk. The MUKS toy and culture museum, the Naturbad Riehen and the paths along the Wiese River are also close, so the Wenkenhof can anchor an easy half-day or full day around Riehen. A Gedenktafel for the mathematician Leonhard Euler in Riehen is another small stop for those interested in local history.

It suits garden lovers, walkers and photographers, and fits well with a visit to the Fondation Beyeler, reachable by tram from Basel.