Built between 1859 and 1861 in the English Neo-Gothic style, the villa was designed by the Freiburg architect Georg Jakob Schneider (1809-1883) and stands on the site of the former St Louis Bastion, one of the few survivors of Vauban's 17th century fortifications. The villa soon became known as the Colombischlössle, a reference to its owner, Countess Maria Antonia Gertrudis de Colombi y de Bode (1809-1863). From 1909 to 1924, the building served as a repository for the city's antiquities collection. Afterwards, it was used as the headquarters of the Town Planning Department and the Registry Office. From 1947 to 1952 it was the official residence of the President of Baden, Leo Wohleb. Later, the city archives and the Higher Regional Court moved into the building. In 1983, the Archäologisches Museum Colombischlössle began exhibiting its treasures in the building.
