Basel - Surroundings

The Aesch Town Museum is located in a 400-year old farmhouse. Exhibitions include local history, prehistoric displays featuring Paleolithic items and Roman crockery.

This driving tour takes in the village of Augst, the Roman colony of Augusta Raurica and the little town of Kaiseraugst.

This annual festival takes place on Ascension Day and is based on the tradition of blessing the fields in Baselbiet. In modern years the festival has become less religious and focuses instead on entertainment. Flag bearers, musicians and dancers gather in the street to entertain residents and visitors alike. The entertainment is followed by a huge feast.

The Bennwil village museum features exhibits highlighting the development of the village, everyday life, agriculture, geology, local flora and fauna.

Throughout the year the Basler Personen-Schiffahrts-Gesellschaft Kurs operates regular services and special trips. There are also day trips to Mulhouse and Breisach on the program. Particular attractions: Fondue-Ländler (dancing) and Spaghetti trips.

The Pillar House in Buus features a display of farm implements.

1km/0.5mi northeast of Augst beyond the Ergolz, beautifully situated on the banks of the Rhine, the little town of Kaiseraugst has the remains of a Roman fortified post. On the Rhine is the Augst-Whylen power station (1907-12), which has a dam 212 m/696ft long, and the Kaiseraugst nuclear power station which was finally halted in 1989 after years of strong opposition.

The displays at the Reigoldswil Local History Museum include hunting and fishing items, linens and small agriculture implements.

The Rhine Shipping Exhibition is located at the Rheinhafen.

It shows everything about Swiss navigation on the Rhine and the high seas through models of historic and modern ships and nautical simulators.

The Local Museum in Sissach has an historical collection of weapons, costumes, books, kitchen utensils, and a model of the 1356 earthquake.

In Basle boats leave from the Mittlere Brücke for trips on the Rhine or around the port installations; boats to Rotterdam from St Johann, Elsässerrheinweg.