Rehberger‑Weg (Walk Of Art)

The Rehberger-Weg is an art walk that crosses the border between Switzerland and Germany, linking the village of Riehen, near Basel, with the town of Weil am Rhein. It was conceived by the German artist Tobias Rehberger, who has been described as one of the most inventive artists of his generation and who won the Golden Lion for best artist at the Venice Biennale in 2009. The path opened in 2007 and connects two of the most important sites of contemporary architecture and art in the region: the Fondation Beyeler, in Riehen, with its museum of modern art in a building by Renzo Piano, and the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, the headquarters of the furniture maker Vitra, which has buildings by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Herzog and de Meuron, Tadao Ando and others. The walk makes the journey between them an experience in itself.

The route is a few kilometres long and runs through fields, orchards and villages in the flat, fertile country between the Rhine and the edge of the Black Forest foothills. Along it, twenty-four stations are marked, each a landmark with some link to art. Some are works by Rehberger himself, designed as interventions in the landscape. Others are existing features, such as a view, a tree or a building, that the artist identified and marked as points of attention, so the walk blurs the line between art and the everyday landscape. The aim is to encourage walkers to look at the surroundings with new attention, to see ordinary things as if they were part of an exhibition, and to think about the border, since the path crosses the line between two countries that once were more strongly divided.

The path is self-guided. It is marked with signs, and a leaflet or app gives information about the stations, so walkers can follow it at their own pace, stopping when something catches their attention. The terrain is flat and the walking easy, so it suits families, casual walkers and cyclists, who can use parts of the route. The crossing of the border is a modern one, since both countries are in the Schengen area for most purposes, but walkers should carry an identity document, as checks may occasionally be made.

The two ends of the route offer plenty to see. At the Riehen end, the Fondation Beyeler has its collection and temporary exhibitions, and the park of the Berower estate, the Wenkenhof gardens and the Museum Kultur & Spiel are close. At the German end, the Vitra Design Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, and the VitraHaus, a stack of house-shaped volumes designed by Herzog and de Meuron, are among the most remarkable buildings in the region, and a fire station by Zaha Hadid, built for the campus, is an early work of the architect. A visit to the Vitra Campus involves admission or a guided tour for some parts, and tickets should be checked in advance.

The walk suits art lovers, architecture enthusiasts and those who like walking with a purpose. Allow two to three hours for the route, and a full day if you visit the museums. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a camera, and check the weather.