Schleifenbergturm

The Schleifenberg is a forested hill above Liestal, and the observation tower on top has become a favourite goal for walkers from the town. Liestal itself is the capital of the canton of Basel-Landschaft, a small, well-kept town with an old centre called the Stedtli, a medieval gate, the Obertor, and a long main street lined with historic houses. The town was founded in the thirteenth century and has kept its character, and it is known for two unusual local traditions. One is the Banntag, a spring walk in which residents walk the boundaries of the municipality, and the other is the Chienbäse, a Fasnacht procession in which participants carry burning bundles of pine wood through the old streets. Both show how closely local people are tied to their landscape and customs.

From the town, several paths climb to the Schleifenberg through woods of beech and pine. The ascent takes about an hour to an hour and a half for most walkers, with a steady gradient and a few steeper sections, and the trails are marked with the yellow signs used across Switzerland. As you gain height, the sounds of the town fade, and you pass clearings with meadow flowers, old stone walls and the odd bench. The hills of the Baselbieter Jura are known for cherry orchards, which bloom in spring, and the walk is especially pretty at that time.

The tower is a simple structure with a spiral staircase, and it lifts the view above the treetops. Without it, the forest would block most of the outlook, and with it you can see across Liestal and the valley of the Ergolz, over the rolling ridges of the Jura and, depending on conditions, to the Black Forest and the Vosges, with the Alps on the southern horizon. Visibility changes a great deal with the weather. Haze, especially in summer, can hide the far views, while clear days in autumn and winter, after rain or a cold front, are the best.

Near the tower there are benches and picnic spots, so many walkers bring food. Refreshments are not always available, so carry water and a snack. The surrounding forest is managed for timber and recreation, and walkers should keep to marked paths and respect forestry work, which may close certain tracks. Dogs should be kept on a lead, particularly in the spring when birds are nesting.

The trip suits walkers of moderate fitness, families with older children, and photographers. It is free and, as far as is known, accessible all year, though the staircase can be slippery in wet or icy conditions, so take care. The Basel region has frequent trains to Liestal, and the walk starts a short distance from the station, so no car is needed. Allow about three hours for the round trip, including time at the top. Combine the walk with a visit to the old town, the Museum.BL and a meal in one of the local restaurants.