Kilchberg lies 571 metres above sea level on the plateau of the upper Eital Valley in Basel-Landschaft’s table Jura. The open landscape with its high-stem orchards and the prominent St. Martin’s Church give the village its distinctive character. Below Kilchberg, the Im Giessen waterfall makes a striking natural feature. A stay here offers something for a range of interests, from architecture and village history to nature experiences and routes through the table Jura.

St. Martin’s Church: Neo-Gothic architecture and bells

St. Martin’s Church was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style in 1867 and consecrated on 5 July 1868. Its design combines motifs of cathedral Gothic with distinctive elements of English Gothic in the interior. The choir window depicts the Last Supper. The church also has the oldest playable organ in the canton of Basel-Landschaft preserved in its original condition. It is considered the canton’s only larger Neo-Gothic country church and the most original creation of its time.

The tower is 34.5 metres high and houses four bells tuned to E-flat, G, B-flat and C. They still ring on Sundays, public holidays, at weddings and at funerals. During restoration work in 1975, a bell-casting pit was discovered and a fourth bell was installed. The church has been protected by the canton since 1974 and is also under federal protection.

Historic houses in the village

Kilchberg’s rural architectural heritage can also be seen beyond the church. The protected farmhouse at Hauptstrasse 8 dates from 1720 and is a historic example of modest rural life. The building at Schlattweg 3 probably dates from the 17th century. It is one of Kilchberg’s most distinctive houses and among the oldest buildings in the village.

Landscape and the Im Giessen waterfall

The Eibach Valley is characterised by its seclusion and close connection with nature. The upper Eital Valley lies in the Basel-Landschaft and Fricktal table Jura, a Jura region listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. Im Giessen, below Kilchberg, is home to a characteristic waterfall of the table Jura: the Eibach plunges nine metres into a wide pool of emerald-green water.

The waterfall can be reached from Kilchberg or from Sagi station in Zeglingen. The Zeglingen, Sagi stop on bus route 104 is associated with the Kilchberg Giessen. The Im Giessen area is managed as tall-herb vegetation, and the stream is intended to flow as naturally as possible. Management practices and the goal for the stream may change as part of ecological management.

Hikes and cycling routes

The pram-friendly hike “Auf dem Walderläbnispfad” (On the Forest Adventure Trail) starts at the Kilchberg Gemeindehaus postbus stop and ends at Gelterkinden railway station. Its first section passes through an open, expansive table Jura landscape. The hike offers places to stop at two playgrounds. There are three barbecue areas or facilities at various locations.

Bus route 104 connects Gelterkinden railway station, Rünenberg, Kilchberg Gemeindehaus and Zeglingen. Check the current timetable for specific journeys. Another route option is the Basel-Landschaft Farm Route to Kilchberg, which can be ridden by e-bike, bicycle or gravel bike. As the route may change, check the current route details in advance.

Refreshments by prior arrangement

Hof Grossacker welcomes hiking groups by prior arrangement and offers homemade seasonal specialities. The current offering may change, so check before you travel.

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