Laufen Castle

The so-called "Hof", today the Amthaus of Laufen, a building of modest castle-like character, probably dates from the turn of the 16th/17th century. This dating is supported by both the architectural style and especially two stucco cartouches on the ground floor with the coats of arms of Prince-Bishops Blarer von Wartensee (1575-1608) and Rinck von Baldenstein (1608-1628). The "Hof" has undergone several renovations over time, most recently at the beginning of the 20th century.

The "Hof", which originally appears to have been a small moated castle, was under episcopal administration a so-called "Sesslehen", meaning the owner was obliged to reside there personally and also had to be of noble status. For a long time, the local Sesslehen was held by the Lords of Neuenstein. After the Bishop of Basel had repurchased the rights of the "Dinghof St. Martin vor den Toren" (near the town) from the House of Habsburg-Austria, he placed Laufen under his Vogt of Zwingen in 1459. A subordinate official resided in the "Hof" until 1792. Under Bernese administration, the local area initially belonged to the district of Delémont. The "Hof" has only been the seat of the newly created district of Laufen since 1846.