The St. Alban Canal in Basel

3 March 2021

Bishop Burkhard von Fenis (1040-1107) founded the city’s first monastery in the St. Alban Valley (St. Albantal) in 1083.

The monks built mills next to the monastery. The water from a branch of the Birs was redirected to the mills. The St. Albanteich (Dalbedyych in the local Basler dialect) was created.

For centuries it remained one of Basel’s most important energy providers. This energy did drive dozens of mill wheels. The canal was also used as a waterway along which most timbers were rafted into the city.

(Bron en verdere informatie: www.papiermuseum.ch).