Discover Duggingen: History and Nature

Duggingen is a municipality in the district of Laufen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. If you are looking for a hotel in Duggingen, history, nature and the interactive Birs Trail experience may be possible focal points. The parish church, Bärenfels Castle Ruins and Falkenflue offer different starting points for planning your stay; Angenstein Castle adds to the picture of the historic landscape along the Birs.

Church, Castles and Local History

Duggingen’s present-day parish church is dedicated to John the Baptist. It was built in 1835 to replace the St. Jost Chapel, which dated from 1735. The town’s history reaches back even further: Duggingen was first mentioned in a document in 1330 under the name “Tuggingen”. Archaeological finds show that the wider area was already inhabited in Roman times. Historically, Duggingen belonged to the lordship of Pfeffingen and thus to the Diocese of Basel. From 1330 onwards, the lords of Bärenfels, Angenstein and Thierstein were also appointed as the bishop’s feudal lords.

Angenstein Castle dominates the narrow rocky passage on the Birs, which marks the transition from the Laufen Valley to the Birseck region. More recent buildings cluster around the imposing medieval residential tower. The rectangular tower was built shortly after 1286. After a devastating fire in 1517, Angenstein remained a ruin for several decades. In 1562, Wendelin Zipper, commissioned by the Bishop of Basel, built new residential buildings and a chapel around the tower. Today, only the tower’s exterior walls remain; it has no interior.

Within the municipality of Duggingen, remnants of the castle, defensive tower and complex can be seen at Bärenfels Castle Ruins. The three-part fortification was probably built around 1200 by the lords of Aesch. The ruins can be reached on foot from Hof Oberaesch and nearby Angenstein Castle. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

Birs Trail and Nature Experience

The Birs Trail is an interactive puzzle experience through the Birs landscape. Along the way, visitors learn interesting facts about the animals and plants that live there. You need an internet-enabled smartphone to take part. A virtual map guides you to various stations; digital content appears on your screen at the corresponding coordinates. One station in Duggingen shows how a wastewater treatment plant works and what happens to wastewater.

Falkenflue forms a sharp escarpment on the southwestern edge of the Gempen Plateau. The rock face is around one kilometre long and 50 metres high. Many rare plant and animal species are found in the protected area. Fire salamanders use crevices at the foot of the rock face as a place to overwinter. Falkenflue is designated as a protected natural feature and is also a climbing area. If you plan to climb there, check for any seasonal restrictions.

Getting There and Practical Information

Duggingen is served by the S3 regional line of the Jura Railway; the train journey from Basel takes around 15 minutes. Check the current timetable for your travel date. The A18 ends at Angenstein Castle; from Duggingen, it is about a two-minute drive away. Check the current route before setting off.

Duggingen railway station has 12 covered bicycle parking spaces. P+Rail Duggingen offers 13 parking spaces; according to SBB, they are free of charge and located on municipal land. As station facilities and parking regulations may change, check this information before travelling. This will help you plan your journey by train, bicycle or car using the most relevant points of reference.

Discover more destinations: Zwingen, Laufen, Grellingen, Liesberg

Return to the main travel overview: Laufen.