View Of The Wiese River

The Wiese is a river of about fifty kilometres that rises on the slopes of the Feldberg in the Black Forest in Germany and flows through the Wiesental valley before reaching the Rhine in Basel. Near its mouth it passes through Riehen, where it forms part of the border between Switzerland and Germany for a short distance, and the section there has been turned into a landscape park that people from both sides use. The views of the river from its banks are among the quietest and most pleasant in the Basel area, and they show how a city river can be restored and shared.

For many years the Wiese was constrained by embankments and dams, built to control floods and protect nearby land. In recent decades the river has been given more room. Parts of the channel have been widened, banks have been softened and gravel bars have been created, so that the water can move more naturally and the vegetation can recover. The work was done with communities on both sides of the border, and the resulting landscape park, called Landschaftspark Wiese, links Basel, Riehen and neighbouring German towns. As a result, the river now has shallow stretches, pools and small islands, and it provides habitat for fish, insects and birds. Kingfishers, grey herons and wagtails are among the species that can be seen by patient observers, and in summer dragonflies hover over the water.

Paths run along both banks and are used by walkers, joggers and cyclists. The main promenade is the Wiesendamm, a raised embankment path that follows the river and offers a good view over the water and the meadows. Wooden footbridges allow you to cross from one side to the other, and benches are placed at points with views of the water. Along the way, there are open fields where people picnic and fly kites, as well as groves of willows and alders that provide shade. The surroundings are flat, so the paths are easy for strollers and for people with limited mobility.

The river changes with the weather and seasons. After rain or snowmelt in the Black Forest, the Wiese can rise quickly and run brown and fast, and in dry periods it becomes clear and shallow, with pebbles visible on the bed. For this reason, it is wise to keep away from the water's edge when levels are high and to supervise children. In spring, wildflowers bloom along the banks, and in autumn the trees colour.

The views are free and open at any hour. The river is easy to combine with other sights in Riehen, such as the Fondation Beyeler, the Wenkenhof gardens and the Lange Erlen park downstream. Trams and buses reach Riehen from the centre of Basel in a short ride, and the river is a few minutes' walk from the stops. It suits walkers, cyclists, families and nature lovers. Allow about an hour for a riverside stroll and longer if you follow the path to Lange Erlen.