The best traffic-free bike rides around Meltingen

The "Obere Tor" (also called Törli) is the landmark of Liestal and the rest of the medieval city fortification. The substructure was built in the first half of the 13th century, the subsequently added barbican had to make way in 1879 for traffic reasons. The tower has probably been painted since 1498/99, the current paintings are by local painter Otto Plattner from the years 1949/50 and show on the inside the Rütli oath and St. George the dragon slayer, on the outside Chronos and a warrior with a Swiss banner.

Liestal is a municipality with a rich and eventful past, dating back to Roman and pre-Roman times. The town was often under the influence of Basel. The town's landmark is the Obere Tor (Törli), a remnant of the medieval fortification. Liestal offers a rich cultural scene.

Newly paved cycle path between Grellingen and Dugingen

The night of the summer solstice in 1984 was dramatic and ominous. Flames shot into the sky above Angenstein Castle, sparks flew through the thick clouds of smoke, and the old castle chapel crackled in the heat. Two precious bells, which had rung out across the valley for centuries, suddenly fell silent. When the smoke cleared, they had vanished. The residents were baffled. No one knew whether thieves had taken advantage of the confusion or whether an ancient curse had completed the work of destruction. The report on SRF: https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/schweiz-aktuell/video/mysterioeser-fund?urn=urn:srf:video:f2e42c17-9264-407f-a914-8eb7cd0d9cf4

There are better places to admire the Birs: It's always quite busy and there's heavy traffic here. Therefore, I recommend: Take a look as you drive by and move on.

With the construction of the new railway line between Aesch and Grellingen, the cycle path was also renovated. It is now completely paved. In Grellingen, near the former paper mill, the path connects to the railway line in such a way that crossing the tracks is no longer necessary. A great connection and very safe, much better than the parallel Grellingerstrasse road above.

The medieval Angenstein Castle belongs to the Canton of Basel-Stadt and is not open to the public. However, the castle can be viewed quite well from the outside, and rooms can be rented for events. The name means 'narrow stone' and comes from the narrow passageway on the site. Throughout its history, it has been burned down, destroyed, and rebuilt many times. The last fire occurred in 1984. The castle also houses rental apartments, and below it lies the Angenstein fortification – a military historical monument of national importance. Bunkers from the Second World War are visible; the painted facades were only added in the 1960s. The Muggenberg bunker complex is visible opposite.

Susy's farm shop is tucked away unobtrusively by the roadside and can easily be missed. That would be a real shame for your taste buds, because on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, they're treated to heavenly goodness. They offer bread, sweets, savory snacks, and drinks from the refrigerator. Payment is accepted in cash or with TWINT. A gem that will give you the energy you need for the next leg of your journey!