Wisenberg Tower, Ruins of Castle Homburg, and the Rümlingen Viaduct in Basel Land

Saturday March 26, 2022 -- Another day to attempt another hike to another look-out tower (Wisenberg in Canton Basel Land)... again with less clear skies than I had hoped! But we knew this was the case, and so we made sure that our 11-km trail also took us to a fabulous castle ruins (Homburg near Läufelfingen) and we walked till the train station in Rümlingen, where the oldest railway viaduct in operation in Switzerland still stands strong (1858). 

Some details:

The Wisenberg tower was built in 1923, is 24.5 meters high, and boasts panorama views all the way to the Alps, on a clear day! Also, the tower is just over the Canton border, so even though we started our hike in the village of Wisen in Canton Solothurn, we crossed into Canton Basel Land right at the tower....

Homberg Castle was originally built in 1240 by Graf Hermann IV von Frohburg, later purchased by the Bishop of Basel who built the mighty residence tower in the early 14th Century. In 1400 the city of Basel made this the seat of the Bailiffs (Overseers). After the French Revolution, the farmers revolted against the bailiffs and burnt the castle in 1798. The remains were slowly transported off to use as building materials elsewhere. 

And finally, the Rümlingen Viaduct on the Basel-Olten train line (Hauenstein Linie) was built in 1853 out of natural stone, and still supports the weight of trains after 150 years! It is a charming architectural construction, and is the oldest viaduct on the Swiss Railway network that is still in its original condition... Urs is very proud to say that he has studied copies of the original blueprints, which are filed in the SBB archives where he works! (The originals are in a different, historical archive).

Our hike started in the village called Wisen (in Canton Solothurn)

Heading up the hill toward the tower, here is a look down at the village of Wisen where we started. The air is very hazy.

Another 10+ km hike, starting in Wisen (Canton Solothurn), crossing the canton border at the tower, then via the Homburg Castle Ruins and Häfelfingen to Rümlingen 

Here at the Wisenberg Tower we cross the Canton border into Canton Basel Land. The tower is just about 25 meters tall

A hazy view of the Baselland countryside from the viewing platform

View to the North

Picnic area at the foot of the tower. Our trail continues through the forest in that direction

Heading back down the tower

The bear garlic is sprouting! I love forest walks in the springtime, because the forest floors are a thick carpet of green, covered in bear garlic

A look back at the Wisenberg Tower before heading down the hill

We're heading down toward that farm, but bypassing it on the left. The road which heads to the left ends at the castle ruins. Right below us is the Spa at Bad Ramsach. 

An interesting spot on our way down the steep hillside: It's called "Tüfelschuchi", which is Swiss-German for "Devil's Kitchen". If there had been a bench here, we would have had our lunch in the "Devil's Kitchen". From here we go to Bad Ramsach, the steep trail (15 minutes)

Heading down the steep trail

Lots of interesting rocky outcroppings here

We found a lovely sunny clearing in the forest, AND a bench. A perfect spot for our picnic lunch

Past Bad Ramsach (a Spa Center) and down that road we saw from above, and we reach the magnificent ruins of the Homburg Castle

A look up at the residence tower from the back side. The tower was built in the first half of the 14th Century by the Bishop of Basel. 

Entering into the residence tower. A spiral stone staircase inside on the left takes us up to the top of the tower. No admission fee required!!

At the top of the Homburg Castle ruins. The residence tower was originally totally finished in wood inside (walls, ceilings, floors) which was all totally destroyed in the fires of 1798. The bailiffs had anticipated the revolt and managed to rescue the furnishings. 

The surrounding landscape of Canton Basel Land

On this side, to the South, is the city of Läufelfingen and the Hauenstein pass (you can see it to the left of the pointed part of the wall. )

You can see where the wooden beams used to be placed to make the floors (all burned in the fires). This floor was the Bailiff's living quarters, thus the larger windows. 

Heading back down the narrow spiral staircase!

What fun climbing up inside the ruins of a castle!

I am standing inside the original stable building to take this photo. 

This aerial photo is taken from the Internet, from the website https://www.archaeologie.bl.ch/. It shows the entire grounds of the castle quite nicely. 

After leaving the castle, we joined National Trail no.7: Via Gottardo, on our way to Rümlingen via Häfelfingen. 

This area is a large region of cherry orchards. The cherries are not yet blossoming, but some other early fruit is already on the way!

Heading down into the village of Häfelfingen. On the other side, under that tree, is a bench, and the next coffee break!

We passed a self-serve farm store inside a large barn, and bought a liter of apple juice produced from the local high-growth apple trees. 

Several magnificent peacocks in this yard. Truly an amazing bird. 

In Häfelfingen

Ah, blossoms

Now we crossed the valley and are enjoying our apple juice on the bench under the tree.

A look down at the village of Häfelfingen

These are some magnificent blossoming trees!!!!

And now we've reached the famous viaduct in Rümlingen, just as the train is crossing it to the Rümlingen Station. 

VIDEO:

Local City Train from Olten to Sissach on the Hauenstein Line

over the Rümlingen viaduct

Heading under the viaduct to the church in Rümlingen. 

The Rümlingen viaduct was built in 1853 out of natural stone, and is the oldest viaduct in Switzerland which is still being "used" on the railway line. Over 150 years!

The church buildings in Rümlingen

Another look at the viaduct from the village side, as we head up to the train station toward the left.

An excerpt of the original blueprints from the SBB archives. The originals are in a special historical archive. 

The little railway station in Rümlingen

On our way by train to Läufelfingen and the Hauenstein Tunnel, we pass the Homburg Castle. 

Our ca. 11-km hike as seen on Google Satellite Maps

The location of the Homburg Castle in Switzerland

Hiking to the top of Cima di Medeglia for a view of the Magadino Plain

Sunday March 20, 2022 -- We finally had a chance to do a "mountain hike" again, albeit to a summit we have been to before in 2017 (at that time with substantially clearer view! Photos are HERE) Nevertheless, it was a lovely day to hike up the mountain, and the view was still pretty impressive.

And the best thing about this choice of destination: Even though it is in the very South of the country, it took us exactly TWO hours with public transit to get from our front door to the starting point of our hike in the Isone Valley!  (Transfers via Train/Train/Train/Bus are short, though, so there is no room for delays!). It's nice when we don't have to travel so long.  

Back in 2017 we started at the very back of the Isone Valley and walked along a boring military road to the summit called "Cima di Medeglia", so this time we took a more interesting trail straight up the hill from the village of Medeglia closer to the entrance of the valley. Of course we started with an inspection of the 16th Century village church, San Bartolomeo, which actually contains a part of the early romanesque church (anno 1200) which was originally built here. Some very nice murals and frescoes, which I always like to inspect. 

The descent back to the valley bottom at Rivera was almost exclusively through the forest on the North and West side of the mountain, so not much to photograph. But we were greeted by many patches of crocuses just emerging... so yes, Spring is finally here!

Heading from Rivera Stazione up the Isone Valley we passed many Magnolia trees, the first flowering trees and so beautiful!

First stop: The church in Medeglia, the village where we are starting the hike. The church of San Bartolomeo is presumed to have been originally built in the year 1200, as a smaller church whose entrance forms a part of this larger one which dates from 1585.

For me, it's always the ceilings which I find most fascinating

This beautifully-painted archway was the entrance to the original small Romanesque church built here in about 1200. 

Some more beautifully-painted murals inside the church of San Bartolomeo in Medeglia

Looking West down the Isone Valley toward Monte Tamaro. We started here in the cemetery with a coffee break!

We're heading up to the hamlet called Canedo, then to the summit at Cima di Medeglia (Cima=Summit), and down to Rivera Stazione. All told, a four-hour hike

The section of Trail no.52 which we are planning to walk: Starting in Medeglia, hiking uphill to the summit of Monte Medeglia (Cima = Summit), and down on the other side back to Rivera, from where we had originally taken a bus into the Isone Valley (we were the only passengers, a private ride!)

Starting up the hill through Medeglia

A look down at San Bartolomeo and the cemetery

The trail we are following, from Medeglia over the Summit and down to Rivera is part of the "Sentiero Lago di Lugano", or the "Lake Lugano Trail", a 130-km trail looping around the area of Lake Lugano.

I am so happy for self-serve farm shops like this one... because this morning I forgot to bring along a bottle of water, and there wasn't even a fountain in Medeglia where we started! So thanks to this farm, I was able to get my water, and some cheese as well which we snacked on not long afterwards

After an hour and 15 minutes of uphill climb we reached this charming mountain hamlet called Troggiano. A perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine and a second coffee break

The charming mountain hamlet of Troggiano. The picnic table was ideal for our second coffee break of the day!

Eating the cheese which we bought earlier at the self-service kiosk!

Another self-timed photo

The view we had from our picnic table: This is to the South on the other side of the Isone Valley. The pass is called "Gola di Lago" ("Throat of the Lake), and the mountain range behind it is called "Denti della Vecchia" = "Old Lady's Teeth"

A very cool rock....

An empty house...

On the last stretch toward the summit

The first glimpse of Lago Maggiore to the North

And here we are at the summit, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Ticino. It took about two hours to get to the summit.

A good place to eat our lunch

Below are the cities of Giubiasco and Bellinzona

Heading down now along trail no.52 toward Rivera Stazione, another approx. 2 hours descent

After about 45 minutes of walking down through the forest we reach another mountain hamlet called "Monti di Prato Grasso", with a stunning panorama view of the Magadino Plain, from Locarno in the West to Bellinzona in the East

VIDEO:

Panorama video of the Magadino Plain

Needless to say, it's another great place for a coffee break!

There are always neat things to see in the forest. And we came across lots of freshly-sprounted crocuses!

The first forest flowers. Spring is here.

Back in 2017 we started in Isone at the very back of the Isone Valley, and walked from there to the summit, then down to Medeglia. This time we started in Medeglia, walked up to the summit, and town to Rivera. 

Where this is in Switzerland, compared to where we live in Zug