Ettingen: Vineyards, Nature and History
Accommodation in Ettingen
Ettingen is located in the Leimen or Birsig Valley at an elevation of 331 metres, at the foot of the Blauen. Specific landmarks for your stay include a nature reserve, vineyards, the village museum and routes for walking and mountain biking.
Natural Areas and Vineyards
The «Büttenenloch-Stapflen» nature reserve is listed as an object of regional importance in the Inventory of Protected Natural Objects of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft. Its conservation objectives include preserving and promoting forest communities suited to the site, together with their characteristic fauna and flora. “Suited to the site” means that the forest communities are appropriate to the local conditions. Undisturbed rocky sites and their characteristic communities are also among the conservation objectives.
The municipality covers 635 hectares. Of this, 35 percent is agricultural land, 50 percent is forest and 15 percent is built-up area. Ettingen’s vineyards form a contiguous area of 3.86 hectares. They are cultivated by 18 growers, including one full-time winegrower.
Hiking Trail and Mountain Bike Route
The BLKB-Bänkliwanderung starts at the Ettingen Bahnhof stop on tram line 10. Its described route runs from above the church, along the edge of the forest, on a hiking trail through the forest to the Rinelfingen area. The route description therefore includes a specific starting point, a forest section and the destination area.
The Blauen-Route adds a mountain bike circuit: it is 31.20 kilometres long and starts and finishes in Ettingen. On the return to Ettingen, it passes the Landsron ruins, which are outside Ettingen. The routes therefore differ in both the activity and the course described: the Bänkliwanderung follows a hiking trail through the forest, while the Blauen-Route is a mountain bike circuit.
History and Village Museum
The FĂĽrstenstein ruins are the remains of a castle in the forest above Ettingen. FĂĽrstenstein Castle was first mentioned in 1302 as a fief of the Bishop of Basel held by the Rothberg family. It should not be confused with the Landsron ruins, which the Blauen-Route passes on its return: FĂĽrstenstein is above Ettingen, while Landsron is outside the village.
Ettingen’s connections with the former Prince-Bishopric of Basel and religious institutions are also part of the village’s history. These include Reichenau Abbey and monasteries in the city of Basel. The canton to which Ettingen belonged also changed: the Congress of Vienna assigned Ettingen to the Canton of Basel in 1815; after Basel was divided into two cantons in 1833, the village became part of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft.
In addition to objects relating to local history, the Ettingen Village Museum displays forestry and agricultural equipment. For groups, museum openings and guided tours can also be arranged at other times on request. Please arrange this in advance of your visit.
Guggermärt and Connections
The Guggermärt takes place in 2026 whatever the weather. You can take this information into account when planning your visit.
BLT tram lines 10 and 17 connect Ettingen with Rodersdorf and the city of Basel, respectively. Bus line 68 connects the village with Hofstetten and Aesch. These lines provide specific connections to help you find your way; no journey times are provided.
Discover more destinations: Oberwil, Binningen, Münchenstein, Muttenz, Birsfelden, Schönenbuch, Reinach, Aesch.
For the regional travel overview: Arlesheim.
