The Mittlere Brücke, Augusta Raurica, Augst and Kaiseraugst

2 April 2025

The Roman legion that crossed the bridge from Kleinbasel to Grossbasel on March 11 did not understand much of what was happening. The Centurion was also convinced that a bridge over the Rhine existed two thousand years ago. However, the inscription on the building on the Kleinbasel side left no doubt: this bridge is 800 years old.

The confusion among the Romans was understandable. After all, they had not been in this region for more than 16 centuries after their departure in 410 AD.

They could not imagine that the small Celtic oppidum with settlements on the Münster and at the old gas factory, and the small Roman Vicus had a bridge and a stone one. This bridge replaced the partly wooden, partly stone bridge that had connected Kleinbasel with Grossbasel since 1225.

Due to heavy traffic, including trams, cars, and trucks, the bridge was replaced by the current one in 1905. This connection led to a significant increase in trade and passenger traffic, making Basel the most crucial city in the region overnight.

Not long after, Kleinbasel and Grossbasel were merged in 1392 into one municipality. However, the Lallekönig in Grossbasel and Vogel Gryff in Kleinbasel keep the animosity alive.

The Lallekönig

The Roman legion did indeed walk over a Rhine bridge 16 centuries ago. However, this bridge was in Augusta Raurica (the current Augst and Kaiseraugst). The foundations and fortifications can still be traced. Sixteen centuries ago, the Roman Colonia Augusta Raurica was the only city in this region.

Like other cities along the Rhine (Rheinfelden and Laufenburg, for example), the Roman Colonia Augusta Raurica was also split into two parts by history: Augst in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and Kaiseraugst in the canton of Aargau. Until the 14th century, Augst was the name for the Roman Augusta Raurica.

For once, Napoleon had nothing to do with this. In the 14th century, the Habsburg Rheinfelden acquired the area of the current Kaiseraugst, hence the name’ Kaiser’ .

The Lords of Farnsburg acquired the area that is now Augst in 1461. The city of Basel acquired this area from the Lords of Farnsburg. Kaiseraugst fell under the canton of Aargau in 1803, Augst under the canton of Basel and from 1833 under the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

(Source and further information: Die Stadtgeschichte Basel; Geschichte der Stadt Basel)