Gempenturm - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Birseck Castle is one of four castles on a slope called Birseck that confines the plain of the Birs river. The Eremitage building group that includes the castle is listed as a heritage site of national significance. Reichenstein Castle is the sister castle to Birseck and sits on a higher slope to the north.

The Goetheanum is situated in Dornach, around 10 kilometers outside the city center. It serves as the head office and conference venue of the General Anthroposophical Society and boasts a distinctive shape, which has also inspired the architects of neighboring buildings. The current building was constructed between 1925 and 1928. Both were designed by the esoteric Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. The monumental exposed-concrete building is particularly striking, owing to the almost

Angenstein Castle is a medieval castle in the municipality of Duggingen. The well-preserved castle belongs to the city of Basel and is rented out for weddings. The Jura Railway passes through a tunnel under Angenstein Castle on its route between Basel and Delémont. It is one of the key attractions in this area and a lot of people visit this place every day.

The Wartenberg is a striking landmark of the Basel-Landschaft community of Muttenz. On the mountain, there are ruins of three medieval castles, which are also named Wartenberg. All three castles were “cleared out” and “restored” during the “castle-romantic phase” in the 1930s to 1950s, with some archaeological findings being lost and historical building material being falsified. The "castle romanticism" led to a broad interest of the population in the Middle Ages.

The Fortified Church of St. Arbogast was founded in the 8th century, and since the 15th century, is completely enclosed by a circular wall. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the border region of Basel is indeed plagued with wars opposing the Habsburgs and the brand-new Swiss confederacy. The church of Muttenz has to potentially serve as a new refuge for the population in the event of future conflicts.

The ruins of Pfeffingen Castle are among the largest castle ruins in the canton Basel-Country and constitute a monument of national significance. In recent years, they were found to be seriously damaged in various places, which not only threatened the historical structure, but also posed a danger for visitors, so a comprehensive general reconstruction was planned.