Museum Wasseramt

About the museum

The museum has grown up around the residential tower of Halten, whose lowest storey probably dates back to the 13th century. It belonged to the retainers of Halten, who served first the Zähringers and later the Kyburgs and administered the lordship over several villages of the Wasseramt. In 1466 the city of Solothurn acquired the lordship. For a long time the tower served as a prison; in 1798 it was declared national property and sold to a farming family.

In 1962 the newly founded foundation “Heimatmuseum Wasseramt – Turm in Halten” acquired the tower, and the museum opened in 1966. Over time, several old granaries from municipalities in the Wasseramt district and a bakehouse were erected around the tower, creating a small open-air site. The house was redesigned in 2018, and in May 2026 a new permanent exhibition opened in the tower.

Today the museum tells of the lives of people in the rural Wasseramt in the 19th and 20th centuries. The tower shows the history of the castle and its changing uses as a noble residence, detention cell, dwelling and living museum; the granaries are devoted to topics such as storing food without a refrigerator, thrifty housekeeping, and farmers and craftsmen. Bread is baked regularly in the bakehouse, and erratic boulders from the Ice Age invite visitors to linger.

Highlights

• Medieval residential tower with a new permanent exhibition (since May 2026)
• Relocated granaries on food storage, housekeeping and crafts
• Bakehouse where bread is baked regularly
• Interactive stations and audio installations with eyewitnesses
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Turm – New permanent exhibition in the medieval residential tower on its changing uses as a noble residence, detention cell, dwelling and living museum.
• Speicher – Three relocated granaries show food storage and weighing, thrifty housekeeping, and the lives of farmers and craftsmen in the Wasseramt.
• Ofenhaus Lüterkofen – Historic bakehouse where a baking group regularly bakes bread in the wood-fired oven.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Stiftung Museum Wasseramt – Turm in Halten

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; the museum welcomes a donation at the entrance.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

In the granaries, visitors can touch, guess and try things out at interactive stations; audio installations play back statements by eyewitnesses.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop and reception in the “Bellach” granary; seating nearby for a coffee break.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The tower grounds and the tower parlour can be used for aperitif receptions at corporate events, class reunions and weddings.

Plan your visit