From Rührberg in Germany to Sankt-Chrischona in Switzerland

Park at the Rührberg hikers' car park (80 spaces) on the edge of the forest between Inzlingen and Wyhlen.

(S/E) With your back to the road, take the path at the far end of the car park on the left for about 100 metres. Join the Red Diamond trail at the next fork and turn right towards Saint-Chrischona in Switzerland.

(1) Just before the border at the "Grenzstein 100" marker, take the path on the right, marked with a yellow diamond. Then take the unmarked path that slopes to the left, runs along the forest and joins the yellow diamond-marked trail a little further on.

(2) Continue straight ahead, cross the fields and enter the forest at the "Nasser Grund" signpost, marked with a yellow diamond.

(3) Continue straight ahead towards Langmatt Farm and Inzlingen. Stay on this path until you reach the next signpost at the edge of the forest, about 300 metres before the farm.

(4) Take the path on the left towards Saint-Chrischona and follow it between the edge of the forest and the Chrischonatal valley until you reach the end.

(5) Continue along Inzlingerweg, straight ahead, and enter the forest. The path follows an "S" shape. Cross two crossroads and continue along Inzlingerweg until you reach the signpost for Saint-Chrischona.

(6) Take the street on the left, then the path on the left towards the church. Go around the church on the right to reach the highest point. Continue to the right, then turn right, leaving the hotel on your left, to reach a five-way crossroads.

(7) Take the second road on the right, then turn onto the small path on the left leading to the restaurant. Take the road on the right to go around it and rejoin the marked path.

(8) Turn left and head towards the TV tower. Continue straight ahead and you will come to the junction you passed on the way there, just after the border.

(1) Continue straight ahead, following the same route as on the way there, until you reach the Rührberg car park (S/E).

Public toilets are located at Chrischonarain 210, between the church and the forest.

The Church of St. Chrischona is a former pilgrimage church and is said to be named after the saint who died there on her return from her pilgrimage to Cologne from the Holy Land. The current church dates from 1503-1516 and was restored between 1974 and 1976. Since 1840, an evangelical mission has been based in St. Chrischona with a training seminary for pastors, preachers and missionaries. A clinic, restaurant and service buildings complete the complex. There is a magnificent 360° panorama from the church platform, with views of the Alps on a clear day. It is the highest point in the canton of Basel-Stadt. The bell tower is accessible and offers a beautiful view of the region.

The TV tower, 250 metres high, including 98 metres for the antenna, is the tallest structure in Switzerland (the tallest building is the Roche 2 tower in Basel, 205 metres high with 50 floors). Built between 1980 and 1983, it replaced the 136-metre-high tower dating from 1961, which itself replaced a 30-metre-high tower from 1954. This new tower, which came into service in 1984, weighs 23,000 tonnes and is used to transmit television, radio and telephone signals, but also serves as a water tower (200 m³) for the municipality of Bettingen and includes a weather station, among other things. It is not open to the public, except for special guided group tours. We admire this modern masterpiece of concrete and steel with its impressive triangular base, measuring 54 metres on each side and visible for miles around in all three countries.