Balsthal lies right at the entrance to the Klus and is the largest municipality in the Thal. Two castles and a rich 3,000-year history shape the town. The municipality includes the village of Balsthal, the Klus and the hamlet of Sankt Wolfgang. When planning, it helps to distinguish between a route with named stops, a viewpoint, a puzzle trail and a seasonal market.
Castles, Museum and History
The Thal Three-Castle Hike leads from Alt-Falkenstein via Alt-Bechburg to the ruins of Neu-Falkenstein. Alt-Falkenstein is both the starting point of the hike and home to the local history museum. The sequence of named castle sites makes the route’s historical focus clear, while the museum offers a separate way to explore local history.
The permanent exhibits at the Alt-Falkenstein local history museum include archaeological finds, fossils, weapons and military memorabilia, ceramics, combs, engravings, and a period living-room exhibit. Masterpieces of comb-making from MĂĽmliswil are also on display, representing the craftsmanship of the area around Balsthal. The museum thus brings together collection items, a period living-room exhibit and a specific connection to local crafts.
Balsthal’s history is also reflected in traces of Celtic settlement, including the Balsthal hoard. Under Roman rule, the town lay on a road connecting Aventicum with Augusta Raurica via the Upper Hauenstein. The evidence points to different things: the hoard is a specific find associated with Celtic settlement, while the road places Balsthal along a route between two named places. Together, they add traces of settlement and a transport route to the picture of its rich 3,000-year history.
Trails between the Nature Park and the Castles
Holzweg Thal has a different focus from the castle route. It runs through Thal Nature Park in the municipalities of Balsthal and Holderbank SO. Along the experience trail, visitors can discover wooden installations by artist Sammy Deichmann. The trails therefore differ in their guiding theme: a sequence of named castle sites on the one hand, and wooden installations on the other.
Views, Puzzles and a Market
The Holzfluh viewpoint is accessible year-round. From there, you can take in Balsthal and the Klus from a bird’s-eye perspective. The Balsthal Detective Trail offers a different kind of experience: it starts at Balsthal railway station and leads past puzzle stations to a treasure chest. The choice between the two activities therefore comes down to views of the town or a puzzle-solving experience.
The Naturpark Märet in Balsthal brings people together in spring and autumn. Visitors can discover certified nature park products made with the region’s finest ingredients. In terms of timing, it differs clearly from Holzfluh: the viewpoint is accessible year-round, while the Märet takes place in spring and autumn.
Discover more destinations: Gänsbrunnen, Welschenrohr.
Return to the overview of the region: Thal.
