Rodersdorf: Fragrance Garden, Landscape and History

When choosing a hotel in Rodersdorf, you can focus on the themes you want to shape your stay: rural scenery, walking routes or individual cultural sites. These include the fragrance garden, the parish church of St. Lawrence and the Kleinbüel archaeological site. This offers a way to consider nature, outdoor activities and history as distinct focal points for your trip.

Landscape and getting there

Rodersdorf is in a rural setting at the northern foot of the Jura, surrounded by hills, fields and forests. Historic buildings and farmhouses shape the village landscape. In 2014, around 31 percent of the municipality’s area was covered by forest and woodland, while 54 percent was used for agriculture. These figures illustrate the importance of these two types of land use in that year. Rodersdorf is the terminus of tram line 10; because of the local geography, the route passes through France. If you plan to include the tram in your journey, check the timetable in advance.

Routes through the landscape

There are numerous walking and cycling routes in the rural surroundings. Walking and hiking trails also cross the hilly landscape of the Leimental valley and lead to the French border. When choosing your activities, you can consider whether you would mainly like to go for walks, hike or cycle.

Church and archaeology

A cantonal overview dated 31 October 2019 lists the parish church of St. Lawrence as a protected site. Its tower is Romanesque-Gothic; the high altar and statues are Baroque. The church therefore offers different art-historical points of interest: the classification of the tower differs from that of the Baroque furnishings.

A total of 57 graves dating from the 6th and 7th centuries were discovered during archaeological excavations at Kleinbüel in Rodersdorf in 2000 and 2001. The rows of graves were located in and around the ruins of a Roman-era sanctuary. Two markedly different historical connections thus converge at this site: the graves from the 6th and 7th centuries and the ruins of a sanctuary from Roman times. For travellers interested in archaeology, this offers a tangible way to engage with local history.

The Rodersdorf fragrance garden

The Rodersdorf fragrance garden was created by transforming a monotonous tram turning loop into a blooming fragrance garden. Around 1,000 fragrant plants were planted there. Its origins link a former tram function with a botanical focus: fragrant plants define the garden’s theme. Alongside architectural and archaeological history, the plant life is therefore another distinct aspect of the area.

Visits and regional culture

At the exhibition depot of the Pro Birsigthalbahn association, guided tours for closed groups can generally be arranged at any time outside the stated opening hours. Coordinate the arrangements with the operator before your visit. Regional festivals and cultural events nearby also offer an opportunity to discover local traditions. If an event affects your trip, check the dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Metzerlen-Mariastein, Witterswil, Dornach, Seewen

See the broader travel overview: Dorneck.