Basel - Rheinfelden

Anmerkungen

Basel is an economically and culturally significant city, an important location for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and home to numerous museums of worldwide importance.

Tipp des Autors

The Roman-era relics in Augst are worth a visit.

In Rheinfelden, relaxation at the thermal spa is recommended.

Orte entlang des Weges

We begin our hike in Switzerland at the Münster, but we do not leave the city without first visiting the market square, the town hall, and the Münster.

From now on, we hike upstream along the Rhine, i.e., against the current. The Rhine is always on our left side while hiking. From St. Alban, we follow the signage of the Via Rhenana, No. 60 on the light green sticker on the yellow hiking trail signs. The Via Rhenana is our path to Koblenz.

After less than a kilometer, we pass the St. Alban church, the only remaining part of the original Cluniac monastery, now rented to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

After about 3 km, we cross the Birs river, and after another kilometer, we reach the Rhine port at Birsfelden. It specializes in handling and storing liquid fuels and dry goods.

The ruins of a Roman watchtower remind us that from 370 AD, Roman legions guarded the northern border of the Roman Empire. There are two more Roman ruins upstream.

The Rhine saltworks in Schweizerhalle supply the country with 400,000 tons of salt annually. The museum provides insight into the history of “white gold.”

In Augst (Augusta Raurica), around 200 AD up to 15,000 people lived. We discover several monuments from this period, especially the forum, the amphitheater, and the Roman museum with over 1.5 million objects, including the largest late antique silver treasure. The Roman house lets you experience the lifestyle of that time.

Right next door, across the Egolz river, lies Kaiseraugst (Castrum Rauracense). This place was founded 300 years after Augst as its offshoot. The name Kaiseraugst does not come from a Roman emperor but from the Habsburg-Austrian (imperial) empire to which it belonged from 1442 to 1801.

In Kaiseraugst stands a Christian Catholic church dedicated to St. Gallus.

Rheinfelden - Switzerland’s oldest Zähringen city - already belongs to the Canton of Aargau. Not to be missed is the brick castle of the Feldschlösschen brewery.

In Rheinfelden, we conclude our first stage on Swiss soil and visit the beautiful town.