Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Landschaft, known locally as Baselbiet, wraps around the city of Basel and stretches far into the valleys of the Jura. If you travel to Basel-Landschaft, you'll find hillsides of cherry trees, the largest Roman city in Switzerland, and small villages that are just a tram ride from the big city.

From the City's Edge into the Jura

In 1833, the countryside broke away from the city of Basel after disputes and has formed its own half-canton ever since. Around Basel you'll find densely populated municipalities such as Binningen, Münchenstein, Muttenz, and Pratteln, where industry, logistics, and residential neighborhoods blend into one another. Beyond them begins the Tabular Jura: valleys such as the Waldenburgertal, the Homburgertal, and the Laufental lead into a landscape of meadows, forests, and castle ruins. In spring, tens of thousands of cherry trees bloom here.

Places and Sights

Liestal, the main town, has a small old town with a painted town hall. On Carnival Sunday, the "Chienbäse" parades through the Stedtli: burning bundles of brushwood and fire carts make for a spectacular sight. In Augst and Kaiseraugst you'll find Augusta Raurica, a Roman city with a theater, temples, and a reconstructed residential house; the Kaiseraugst Silver Treasure is one of the most significant Late Roman finds. In Münchenstein, the Schaulager shows contemporary art in a building by Herzog & de Meuron, and the Merian Gardens in Brüglingen invite you to stroll. The castle ruins on the Wartenberg above Muttenz and the Waldenburg Railway open up the hinterland.

If you're looking for a loop hike, you'll find one on the Baselbieter Chirsiweg (Cherry Trail) in the Diegtertal or on the Sissacher Flue with views over the Ergolz Valley. Sissach itself is a market town, and in Langenbruck on the Oberer Hauenstein you'll find an old monastery and cross-country ski trails. In summer, many villages hold Bannumgänge, in which residents walk the municipal boundaries.

Food and Best Time to Visit

Baselbiet cherries and the Chriesiwasser, a cherry brandy distilled from them, are regional specialties, as is Kirschenmichel, a bread pudding baked with cherries. Pinot Noir grows in the vineyards of Maisprach and Buus. Getting there: trams and the S-Bahn link the municipalities closely with Basel, and Liestal lies on the rail line to Olten. The best times to visit are April for the cherry blossoms and June/July for the cherry harvest.