Cycling in Switzerland
Passwang–Oberaargau
Stage 1, Dornach–Balsthal
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Passwang–Oberaargau
Stage 1, Dornach–Balsthal
First the cool Goetheanum in a busy, densely populated urban area, followed by a dry plateau with cherry trees. The road to Balsthal leads across steep Jura passes full of flowers and guarded by castle ruins perched on rugged rocks.
The ruins of majestic Dorneck Castle are looming over Dornach with the Goetheanum below, the world centre for the anthroposophical movement. The building was designed by founder Rudolf Steiner and its architecture is characterized by organically expressive forms and the departure from right angles. Just above the train station of Dornach and Arlesheim is a fountain where three of SwitzerlandMobility’s regional bike routes meet. The Passwang–Oberaargau route (no. 71) continues up the winding pass and through the forest.
Riding past cliffs and blooming grain fields, you will spot Schartenfluh up high. At 753 m it is the highest elevation of the Gempen plateau. After almost as many switchbacks as kilometres, a myriad of cherry trees appearing on the plateau is a welcome sight. On the other hand, there isn’t a single creek or river around. The reason is the geology of the flat-topped mountain: the underground is permeable to water and full of karstic fissures and therefore the rain water quickly seeps away. The rural area before Seewen is also pretty to look at. The Museum of Music Automatons is located right on the bike route. It houses one of the largest collections of Swiss music boxes and a fascinating selection of music automatons from centuries past.
Next comes the tiny Baslerweier pond followed by the villages of Bretzwil and Nunningen, before the route continues uphill again, heading into the Fold Jura of the Ried and Nunninger Mountains. Across the Passwang pass, in the middle of the Thal Nature Park, you reach Ramiswil. On your right is a mill from the 16th century. Visitors are welcome and the mill can even be rented. With a little imagination, the rugged limestone cliffs of Mümliswil are sure to make you think of the famous natural rock arena of Creux-du-Van. And when you approach the Neu Falkenstein ruin near St. Wolfgang, you almost feel transported back to the Middle Ages. The beautiful tour through the Jura Mountains with over 1000 altitude meters – who would have thought? - finally ends in Balsthal. Now it’s time to visit the restaurant that overlooks Altes Kornhaus, a stunning building built in 1790.
Riding past cliffs and blooming grain fields, you will spot Schartenfluh up high. At 753 m it is the highest elevation of the Gempen plateau. After almost as many switchbacks as kilometres, a myriad of cherry trees appearing on the plateau is a welcome sight. On the other hand, there isn’t a single creek or river around. The reason is the geology of the flat-topped mountain: the underground is permeable to water and full of karstic fissures and therefore the rain water quickly seeps away. The rural area before Seewen is also pretty to look at. The Museum of Music Automatons is located right on the bike route. It houses one of the largest collections of Swiss music boxes and a fascinating selection of music automatons from centuries past.
Next comes the tiny Baslerweier pond followed by the villages of Bretzwil and Nunningen, before the route continues uphill again, heading into the Fold Jura of the Ried and Nunninger Mountains. Across the Passwang pass, in the middle of the Thal Nature Park, you reach Ramiswil. On your right is a mill from the 16th century. Visitors are welcome and the mill can even be rented. With a little imagination, the rugged limestone cliffs of Mümliswil are sure to make you think of the famous natural rock arena of Creux-du-Van. And when you approach the Neu Falkenstein ruin near St. Wolfgang, you almost feel transported back to the Middle Ages. The beautiful tour through the Jura Mountains with over 1000 altitude meters – who would have thought? - finally ends in Balsthal. Now it’s time to visit the restaurant that overlooks Altes Kornhaus, a stunning building built in 1790.
First the cool Goetheanum in a busy, densely populated urban area, followed by a dry plateau with cherry trees. The road to Balsthal leads across steep Jura passes full of flowers and guarded by castle ruins perched on rugged rocks.
The ruins of majestic Dorneck Castle are looming over Dornach with the Goetheanum below, the world centre for the anthroposophical movement. The building was designed by founder Rudolf Steiner and its architecture is characterized by organically expressive forms and the departure from right angles. Just above the train station of Dornach and Arlesheim is a fountain where three of SwitzerlandMobility’s regional bike routes meet. The Passwang–Oberaargau route (no. 71) continues up the winding pass and through the forest.
Riding past cliffs and blooming grain fields, you will spot Schartenfluh up high. At 753 m it is the highest elevation of the Gempen plateau. After almost as many switchbacks as kilometres, a myriad of cherry trees appearing on the plateau is a welcome sight. On the other hand, there isn’t a single creek or river around. The reason is the geology of the flat-topped mountain: the underground is permeable to water and full of karstic fissures and therefore the rain water quickly seeps away. The rural area before Seewen is also pretty to look at. The Museum of Music Automatons is located right on the bike route. It houses one of the largest collections of Swiss music boxes and a fascinating selection of music automatons from centuries past.
Next comes the tiny Baslerweier pond followed by the villages of Bretzwil and Nunningen, before the route continues uphill again, heading into the Fold Jura of the Ried and Nunninger Mountains. Across the Passwang pass, in the middle of the Thal Nature Park, you reach Ramiswil. On your right is a mill from the 16th century. Visitors are welcome and the mill can even be rented. With a little imagination, the rugged limestone cliffs of Mümliswil are sure to make you think of the famous natural rock arena of Creux-du-Van. And when you approach the Neu Falkenstein ruin near St. Wolfgang, you almost feel transported back to the Middle Ages. The beautiful tour through the Jura Mountains with over 1000 altitude meters – who would have thought? - finally ends in Balsthal. Now it’s time to visit the restaurant that overlooks Altes Kornhaus, a stunning building built in 1790.
Riding past cliffs and blooming grain fields, you will spot Schartenfluh up high. At 753 m it is the highest elevation of the Gempen plateau. After almost as many switchbacks as kilometres, a myriad of cherry trees appearing on the plateau is a welcome sight. On the other hand, there isn’t a single creek or river around. The reason is the geology of the flat-topped mountain: the underground is permeable to water and full of karstic fissures and therefore the rain water quickly seeps away. The rural area before Seewen is also pretty to look at. The Museum of Music Automatons is located right on the bike route. It houses one of the largest collections of Swiss music boxes and a fascinating selection of music automatons from centuries past.
Next comes the tiny Baslerweier pond followed by the villages of Bretzwil and Nunningen, before the route continues uphill again, heading into the Fold Jura of the Ried and Nunninger Mountains. Across the Passwang pass, in the middle of the Thal Nature Park, you reach Ramiswil. On your right is a mill from the 16th century. Visitors are welcome and the mill can even be rented. With a little imagination, the rugged limestone cliffs of Mümliswil are sure to make you think of the famous natural rock arena of Creux-du-Van. And when you approach the Neu Falkenstein ruin near St. Wolfgang, you almost feel transported back to the Middle Ages. The beautiful tour through the Jura Mountains with over 1000 altitude meters – who would have thought? - finally ends in Balsthal. Now it’s time to visit the restaurant that overlooks Altes Kornhaus, a stunning building built in 1790.
Length
42 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 42 km
Natural surface: 0 km
Natural surface: 0 km
Ascent | Descent
1100 m | 950 m
Fitness level
difficult
Arrival | return travel
More …
Traffic volume
Beware: busy main roads Dornach–Gempen and Neuhüsli–Passwang–Balsthal
Diversion, Nunningen
Duration
until summer 2024
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
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