Ettingen lies in the Leimen or Birsig Valley, 331 metres above sea level at the foot of the Blauen. There are different ways to shape a stay here: nature, winegrowing, village history, or a hiking or mountain biking route. If you are looking for the right accommodation, you can start by considering which of these aspects of the village matters most for your trip.
Nature, Vineyards and Forest
The “Büttenenloch-Stapflen” nature reserve is listed as an area of regional importance in the inventory of protected natural sites in the Canton of Basel-Landschaft. Its conservation objectives include preserving and promoting woodland communities suited to their locations, together with their characteristic fauna and flora, as well as undisturbed rocky habitats with characteristic communities. For nature enthusiasts, both woodland and rocky habitats are therefore important aspects of the protected area.
The distribution of land use at municipal level also gives an impression of Ettingen’s landscape: the 635-hectare area consists of 50 percent forest, 35 percent agricultural land and 15 percent settlement area. Forest is therefore the largest of the three stated shares. Ettingen’s vineyards form a contiguous area of 3.86 hectares. They are tended by 18 growers, including one full-time winemaker. Taken together, the area and number of growers show winegrowing as a clearly defined local focus.
Museum and Local History
The Ettingen Village Museum displays objects related to local history, as well as forestry and farming equipment. Groups can arrange for the museum to open and for guided tours to be held at other times on request. If a visit is part of your plans, arrange this before you arrive.
Another local-history landmark is the ruin of Fürstenstein: the crumbling castle complex lies in the forest above Ettingen. The castle was first mentioned in 1302 as a fief of the Bishop held by the Rothberg family. The years 1815 and 1833 mark two distinct milestones in the village’s political history: at the Congress of Vienna, Ettingen was assigned to the Canton of Basel; after the division of the Canton of Basel, it became part of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft in 1833.
Hiking and Mountain Biking
The BLKB-Bänkli hike starts at the Ettingen Bahnhof stop on tram line 10. From above Ettingen church at the edge of the forest, the trail leads through the forest to the Rinelfingen area. The starting point and route make this tour different from a mountain biking circuit.
The Blauen Route is a 31.20-kilometre mountain biking circuit that starts and finishes in Ettingen. On the return, it passes the Landsron ruins, which are outside Ettingen. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the two ruins: FĂĽrstenstein is the castle complex in the forest above Ettingen, while Landsron is mentioned as a landmark on the return leg of the Blauen Route.
Market and Transport Links
The Guggermärt market takes place in all weather. If the market is important to your trip, check the event date for your travel period. As for transport, BLT tram lines 10 and 17 run from Ettingen to Rodersdorf and the city of Basel, respectively; bus line 68 connects Ettingen with Hofstetten and Aesch. Check the timetables for your travel day and include the starting point of your chosen route in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Reinach, Arlesheim, Muttenz, Binningen, Allschwil, Aesch, Birsfelden, Oberwil.
Go to the main travel overview: Arlesheim.
