[1] One of the largest Roman era villas in Switzerland was excavated from under the castle in 1840-42 by Frédéric Dubois de Montperreux.

It was built in multiple stages between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD into a palatial mansion with a peristyle, at least two baths with mosaics and frescoes and terraced gardens.

In the 11th or 12th century a fortified tower was built over the ruins of the Roman villa.

Starting in 1824 it was used by the Federal militias as a parade ground and was converted into a barracks and given an expanded arsenal.

In 2003, the Army XXI reforms dissolved the Division and in 2004 the barracks became an infantry training center.