SRF highlights ridge hike to Belchenflue

A 13-kilometre circular hike from Langenbruck combines a ridge walk, cultural history and views of the Alps, SRF reports. The moderate route, officially opened in spring 2026, leads past Schönthal Monastery and along the Jura ridge to the Belchenflue before returning to Langenbruck.

The hike begins in Langenbruck, a village at 700 metres above sea level and the highest municipality in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The village was once home to Switzerland’s largest ski jump, and flight pioneer Oskar Bider came from the area.

The first kilometres rise gently through an idyllic landscape to Schönthal Monastery, a former 12th-century Benedictine monastery and one of the canton’s important cultural monuments. Today, the site serves as a cultural meeting place where artists from around the world have exhibited sculptures.

From the monastery, the path climbs into the forest before narrowing into a ridge trail. Woodland paths alternate with open sections along the ridge, with sure-footedness required, particularly in wet weather.

The Belchenflue, a prominent rocky outcrop, is the high point of the hike. It lies about seven kilometres west of Olten, and the border between the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn runs along its rocky edge. The outcrop stands directly above Eptingen, a village known for its mineral spring.

The ridge also bears traces of wartime history. A nearly 50-kilometre chain of defence installations forms a semicircle around the region, including the armoured turret near Lauchflue. The area never experienced a direct armed attack.