Laufen: Discover the Old Town, Museums and Trails

Laufen lies in the Laufental Valley on the River Birs. It is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and the capital of the district of the same name. The town is on the Jura railway line between Basel and Delémont. Its old town is in the centre and can be reached by public transport. The townscape brings together remnants of medieval fortifications and museums with trails, seasonal leisure activities, and offerings related to herbs and sweets. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether you are most interested in the old town, a particular route, the museums or a seasonal activity.

Old Town and Architectural History

Laufen’s old town has cobbled lanes, historic town gates and remnants of the town wall. The Untertor is a distinctive part of the original medieval town fortifications. Despite several alterations, it has retained its monumental character and still serves as an entrance to the enclosed old town centre. The Baroque Church of St. Catherine offers another point of reference in time: its construction was completed in 1698. The former prison is also one of the old town’s attractions. The remnants of fortifications, town gates and the church thus represent different aspects of Laufen’s architectural history.

Museums and Historical Traces

The Laufental Museum is located at Helye-Platz in the old town. The Laufen Fossil Museum is housed in an annex of the Laufental Museum along the town wall. More than 2,500 fossils, dating back 150 to 200 million years, are on display there. The fossils offer a natural-history perspective on a distant past, while the walls and town gates reveal the town’s architectural development.

A historical project in the old town transforms it into a historical echo chamber through ten voices and photographic portraits, spanning the period from 2400 BC to 1989. Laufen’s history also encompasses Roman and Alemannic periods. The valley then belonged to the Frankish Empire and, from 853 to 1033, to the Kingdom of Burgundy. Later municipal milestones include 1846, when Laufen became the district capital, and 1852, when the municipalities of Laufen Stadt and Laufen Vorstadt were united.

Trails, Routes and Getting There

The Jubilee Trail leads from the railway station through the town of Laufen and continues over Bromberg towards Röschenz. The Laufen Planet Trail is a 6.2-kilometre circular hiking route. Including the connecting route from the railway station to the trail and back, the total distance is 8.3 kilometres. The two distances given for the Planet Trail therefore depend on whether you count only the loop or also the route to and from the railway station.

The Planet Trail starts and ends at Laufen railway station, where connections are available to the S-Bahn and various bus routes. QR codes on the planet information boards link to the audio play “Moggä and the Galactic Adventure on the Planet Trail”. The route description noted that the signage was being renewed; check the current route before setting off. The trail combines a clearly specified loop with an audio play, while the Jubilee Trail is described by its sequence of named places.

Swimming and Seasonal Ice Skating

Nau swimming pool has a 95-metre water slide and a diving pool with 1-metre and 3-metre diving boards. Public ice skating is available at the ice sports and leisure hall from mid-October to mid-March; club teams can begin training as early as the end of August. Exact seasonal dates may change, so it is worth checking the latest information before your visit. The facilities differ in their amenities and in the stated season for ice skating.

Ricola Experiences and Local Culture

Exclusive guided tours can be booked at the Ricola Herb Centre in Laufen, showing the journey from fresh herbs to sweets. The centre is considered Europe’s largest clay building. At the Ricola Experience Shop, visitors can create a personal mix of their favourite sweets. The factory shop in Laufen also offers a variety of chocolate creations; check the opening hours before visiting.

Laufen’s cultural life also has its own historical points of reference. Fasnacht has a long tradition; the first documented Fasnacht procession took place in 1896. Since September 2002, the Kulturforum association has presented its programme at the “Alts Schlachthuus” cultural centre in Laufen. These dates add local event and cultural venues to the picture of the old town and its architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Liesberg, Zwingen, Duggingen, Grellingen.

Return to the main travel overview: Laufen.