Arc jurassien
Overview
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Distance 43 km
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Ascent 340 m
Intro
In Thal many farms nestle between two Jura chains, the chemical industry is history. At Balsthal castles and ruins stand guard over the entrance to the valley. In Baselbiet the Jura chain changes to the gentler Tafeljura, we meet the first cherry trees.
Description
Welschenrohr, once the centre of the watchmaking industry in the Canton of Solothurn, lies on the edge of the famous Wolfsschlucht gorge in the Thal nature park in the Solothurn Jura region. The area offers a unique combination of natural and cultural landscape, of history and modernity. A project attempting to reintroduce European bison – a primitive-looking animal that is Switzerland’s largest mammal – to the region is also based here.
The cycle path follows the course of the Dünnern River as far as Balsthal, which consists of Balsthal proper, the village of Klus and the hamlet of St. Wolfgang. The ruins of Neu-Falkenstein Castle, whose origins date back to the 12th century, can be spotted from far off. The mediaeval castle has had something of an action-packed history: in 1798, angry peasants set fire to it, after which the smouldering remains were abandoned and went to wrack and ruin.
From Balsthal, the route follows the Augstbach stream to Langenbruck, which you reach just after crossing into the Canton of Basel Landschaft near Holderbank. From Langenbruck, the cycle path climbs slightly over the Oberer Hauenstein. With its old Roman road, the Oberer Hauenstein is a protected historical transport route and an area typical for the Faltenjura region. The Romans rolled their wagons through here all those years ago and left their mark. The pass played an important role as a link between the High Rhine and Swiss plateau regions. Moving ahead to modern times, the Obere Hauenstein was the most important transport route between Basel and Solothurn until the A1 motorway opened. The pass in Langenbruck is a mere 734 metres above sea level. The former ski lift here has gone; instead, you now get a speedy, twisting ride downhill on the summer toboggan run. The historic houses here, some of which are a bit crooked, possess a certain charm.
The route continues on winding roads down to Waldenburg, where it meets the first stretch of the Frenke, a river that flows as far as Liestal. The village with its castle gained its fame thanks to the Waldenburg narrow-gauge railway, (75 cm), which was in operation until 2021. Since 2022, a modern standard-gauge railway connects the two towns of Waldenburg and Liestal.
Next up is Oberdorf, whose history dates back to the 9th century. Once known for its silk ribbon weaving, today the village is an industrial centre specialising in medical technology and precision engineering. For the final section of the stage, the cycle path runs first along a quiet river path and then out through expansive fields on flat terrain. Finally, you come to a halt in Liestal, capital of the Canton of Basel Landschaft. With its typical mediaeval layout and numerous cafés, the town is a perfect place to stop and linger.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Welschenrohr
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Liestal
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| Ascent |
340 m
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| Descent |
700 m
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| Distance |
43 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
43 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Theme |
Through a nature conservation area
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Quick Facts
Route number
