Thierstein: Castles, Monastic History and Jura Trails

The district of Thierstein is in the canton of Solothurn and belongs to Schwarzbubenland in the Basel metropolitan region. Breitenbach is the district capital; the area ranges from 326 to 1,205 metres above sea level. If you are planning a stay, you can choose from castles and monastic history, village museums, hiking routes and distinctive natural sites. The variety of themes makes it easy to plan your days around your own interests.

Castles, Monastery and Architectural History

Thierstein Castle in Büsserach was founded around 1100 by the Counts of Saugern-Pfeffingen and rebuilt around 1300 under the direction of the Counts of Thierstein. After the noble family died out in 1522, Solothurn took over the site. In the 19th century, private initiative saved the masonry from extensive destruction. After part of the ruin collapsed in March 1997, the municipality of Büsserach restored it.

The ruins of Neu-Thierstein are defined by an imposing residential tower and outbuildings; faint traces of an outer ward and an older entrance can also be seen. The ruins are open to the public on the last Sunday of each month from June to October. From the nearest public car park or public transport stop, it takes around 15 minutes to walk there; walking time may vary depending on trail conditions. Tours can be booked through the castle commission or the Schloss-Schryber. Check access details and current booking arrangements before your visit.

Gilgenberg Castle Ruins offer views of the surrounding hills. Its architecture includes a massive, five-storey palas; the site has been protected as a cantonal historic monument since 1935. Beinwil Monastery offers another glimpse into sacred history: around 1100, Abbot Esso founded a settlement there at the northern foot of the Passwang with monks from the reform monastery of Hirsau in the Black Forest. The monastery church is still used by the Roman Catholic parish of Beinwil. A small museum is housed in the attic of an outbuilding.

The churches in the area also reflect different periods of construction. St. Luke’s Parish Church in Bärschwil was first mentioned in a document in 1548; its tower dates from the 15th century, while the Baroque nave was built in 1727. St. Wendelin Chapel was built in 1692 and last restored in 1985. In Meltingen, the Church of Mary in the Hag quickly became an important pilgrimage site in the canton after its legendary foundation in the early 15th century.

Hikes and Excursions

The routes offer a range of durations and difficulty levels. The hike to Welschgätterli between Grindel and Erschwil is 11.1 kilometres long, takes 3 hours and 40 minutes, and is rated moderate; the stated season is May to October. The starting point, Grindel, Oberdorf, can be reached by bus from Laufen railway station. From the endpoint, Erschwil, Dorf, a bus runs to Zwingen railway station. Check connections before travelling. Welschgätterli itself is a pass between Montsevelier in the Jura’s Val Terbi and Erschwil.

A shorter option is the family hike Auf der Flue above Kleinlützel: it covers 7.1 kilometres, takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes, and is rated easy; the stated season runs from April to October. The eight-metre-high Remelturm on the route served as a lookout post during the First World War and offers expansive views. The different distances and ratings make it easier to choose a suitable tour without having to estimate walking time from the route length.

Another route follows scenic trails to the ruins of Neu-Thierstein and continues towards Büsserach. Sure-footedness and concentration are required on the ridge section across the Chemmiflue. For a different landscape, the hike through the Kaltbrunnental valley runs from Meltingerbrücke to Grellingen and is described as a family hike. Near its end, the Chessiloch coat-of-arms rock is a military history monument.

In Nunningen, the forest nature trail starts at the Nunningerberghütte and takes about an hour to walk. The Vitaparcours starts and ends in Barren, is 2.7 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 80 metres. The Nunningerberg–Stierenberg hike passes through extensive, species-rich dry pastures and impressive mountain forests; in clear weather, the views extend to the Alps.

Museums, Markets and Local Traditions

The bicycle museum in Nunningen is wheelchair-accessible and displays forty bicycles from all the major periods in the development of the bicycle. The collection includes a replica of the running machine developed by Karl Drais in 1817. The village museum focuses on historical objects, most of which come from the village and its immediate surroundings. The collections also include memorials to the Basel bishop Dr Anton Hänggi and the local poet Dr h. c. Albin Fringeli. The village museum is open on the first Sunday of the month from 2 pm to 5 pm, except in July and August; check opening hours before your visit.

Alemannic customs such as carnival, disc throwing and Kätheriejagen are still alive in Nunningen. A recurring event is the Nunningen Autumn Market, held every year since 1987 on the Saturday before the Swiss Federal Day of Prayer and Repentance. Stalls sell handmade food, knitted and sewn goods, and arts and crafts. A coffee room, a raclette room and a grill stand round out the offerings. If you would like to plan a visit to the market, check the date for your year of travel.

Nature and Other Visitor Attractions

At St. Fridli Waterfall, the Siggbach flows over a curved rock face and drops around twenty metres. It can also be reached via Nunninger-Berg. During prolonged winter cold, an ice stalagmite and an ice stalactite can form there and may eventually grow together. The Riedberg-Chäppeli–Nunningerberg area is designated a cantonal nature reserve. Where the Chäppeliweg crosses the Riedberg ridge lies the small St. Wendelin Chapel, set in a characteristic ridge-top pine forest. Damp, shaded spots on the limestone cliffs in the Riedberg area provide a habitat for the notched Jura hairy snail, an endemic species of the central Jura.

Near Bärschwil, the lime kiln in Stritteren is located in the wooded valley of the Stritterenbach, right beside two ponds created in 1983 that are protected areas. The excavated kiln can be entered; an information board on site explains the structure and how it worked. Together with a non-restored kiln in Rickenbach, it is one of only two preserved lime kilns in the canton of Solothurn. Those interested in military history will also find a point of interest in Kleinlützel: its fortifications are considered the largest fully equipped infantry works in north-western Switzerland and are presented on tours about Swiss military history. Tours are offered from 1 April to 31 October by prior arrangement. A tour of the Kleinlützel Süd bunker takes about 75 to 90 minutes. The district also has cycling routes with winding roads, scenic descents and climbs.

Discover More Places

Discover more places: Fehren, Bärschwil, Beinwil, Erschwil, Himmelried, Nunningen.

Discover more destinations: Wasseramt, Thal.

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