Reigoldswil, Region Wasserfallen, Mills, Cable Car and Rifenstein Castle

9 February 2024

The first known owners of the village Reigoldswil (canton of Basel-Landschaft) were the Lords of Frohburg. The name Rigoltswire (Rigolt’s hamlet) was first mentioned in 1152. In 1366, the village passed to the Bishop of Basel. From 1400 to 1798, the village fell under the rule of the city of Basel.

Rifenstein Castle was inhabited from 1200 to the middle of the 14th century, after which it fell into disrepair. During the years of the separation of the Canton of Basel (1832-1833), Reigoldswil initially remained on the side of the city. To support Reigoldswil, Basler troops marched into the village on August 3 in vain.

On 26 August 1833, the secession was decided by a resolution of the Tagsatzung, the meeting of representatives of the cantons, and Reigoldswil became part of the new canton of Basel-Landschaft.

The Reigoldswil-Wasserfallen Luftseilbahn was put into operation in 1956.

The building was constructed in the 19th century as an office for the Wasserfallen railway. This railway line would have connected Liestal with Olten in the 19th century. There was, however, no money to build the tunnel, and the office subsequently became a sawmill, the Äussere Säge. It was powered by a waterwheel until 1943. Waterwheels also powered two other saws and two mills in the little village! The wheel on the picture is a 1991 copy, but it still functions and provides energy!

(Source: www.reigoldswil.ch).

The hunters trail  (Das Jägerswägli)

 

The Region Wasserfallen, nomen est omen