During prolonged winter cold, an ice stalagmite and an ice stalactite can form at St. Fridli Waterfall and eventually grow together. The Siggbach flows over a rounded rock face here; the waterfall plunges around twenty metres. It can also be reached via Nunningerberg. In the Thierstein district, natural phenomena such as these sit alongside ruins, village museums and hiking trails. The district is in the canton of Solothurn and forms part of Schwarzbubenland in the Basel metropolitan region; its main town is Breitenbach. Elevations range from 326 to 1,205 metres above sea level.
Ruins, monastic history and craftsmanship
The Neu-Thierstein ruins comprise an imposing residential tower with ancillary buildings. Faint traces of an outer bailey and an older entrance can also be seen at the site. The ruins are open to the public on the last Sunday of each month from June to October. Tours can be booked through the castle commission or the Schloss-Schryber; check the current booking arrangements before your visit. The ruins are around a 15-minute walk from the nearest public car park or public transport stop. Walking time may vary depending on route conditions.
The history of Thierstein Castle in BĂĽsserach spans several centuries: around 1100, the Counts of Saugern-Pfeffingen founded the site, and around 1300 it was rebuilt 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 ruins collapsed in March 1997, the municipality of BĂĽsserach restored them.
The Gilgenberg ruins also combine architectural history with views of the surrounding hills. Their imposing palas has five storeys; the ruins have been protected as a cantonal heritage site since 1935. In Beinwil, around 1100, Abbot Esso founded a settlement on the northern foothills of the Passwang with monks from the reformed monastery of Hirsau in the Black Forest. The church of Beinwil Monastery is still used by the Roman Catholic parish. A small museum is housed in the attic of an outbuilding of the monastery.
Another part of the region’s history can be found at the lime kiln in the Stritteren near Bärschwil. The kiln lies in the wooded valley of the Stritterenbach, right beside two ponds created in 1983 and protected as nature reserves. Together with an unrestored site in Rickenbach, it is one of only two surviving lime kilns in the canton of Solothurn. The excavated site can be walked through; an information panel explains its construction and operation on site.
Museums and living traditions
In Nunningen, the bicycle museum explores the development of the bicycle. It features forty bicycles from important periods, as well as a replica of the running machine developed by Karl Drais in 1817. The museum is wheelchair accessible. The village museum displays historical objects, most of which come from Nunningen or the surrounding area. Collections commemorate 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 the opening hours before your visit.
Alemannic customs such as Fasnacht, disc throwing and Kätheriejagen are still alive in the district. The Nunningen autumn market offers another glimpse into the local calendar: it has been held every year since 1987 on the Saturday before the Day of Prayer and Repentance. Market stalls offer handmade food, knitted and sewn goods, and handicrafts; there is also a coffee room, a raclette room and a grill stand.
Hiking among rocks, forests and scenic views
The Riedberg-Chäppeli–Nunningerberg area is designated as a cantonal nature reserve. At the Chäppeliweg crossing over the Riedberg ridge lies the small St. Wendelin Chapel in a ridge-top pine forest. From the southern ridge of the Riedberg area, views extend south to Hirnichopf and Oberschattenberg, and as far as the foothills of the Passwang. The damp, shady areas of the limestone cliffs provide habitat for the notched Jura hairy snail, an endemic species of the central Jura.
The Nunningerberg–Stierenberg hike passes through species-rich nutrient-poor meadows and mountain forests. On clear days, views extend to the Alps. In Nunningen, the forest nature trail starts at the Nunningerberghütte and takes about an hour on foot. The Vitaparcours starts and ends in Barren and is 2.7 kilometres long, with an elevation gain of 80 metres.
The hikes described offer clear points of comparison for planning different kinds of trips: the route to Welschgätterli between Grindel and Erschwil is 11.1 kilometres long, takes 3 hours and 40 minutes, and is considered moderately difficult. Its season runs from May to October. The family hike “On the Flue above Kleinlützel” is 7.1 kilometres long, takes around 2 hours and 5 minutes, and is rated easy; its season runs from April to October. The starting point, “Grindel, Oberdorf”, can be reached by bus from Laufen railway station. A bus runs from the endpoint, “Erschwil, Dorf”, to Zwingen railway station. Check connections before your trip.
A family-friendly hike runs through the Kaltbrunnental from MeltingerbrĂĽcke to Grellingen. Near the end of this route is the Wappenfelsen military history monument at Chessiloch. In the Chaltbrunnental-Brislachallmet area, a karst trail also presents typical watercourses in limestone areas, as well as important caves and karst features. Another route follows scenic trails to the Neu-Thierstein ruins and continues towards BĂĽsserach; the ridge section over the Chemmiflue requires sure-footedness and concentration.
Discover more destinations: Fehren, Bärschwil, Beinwil, Erschwil, Himmelried, Nunningen, Gäu, Bucheggberg
For the main travel overview: Solothurn.
