The Celts, Romans, Storchs and nature of Möhlin
28 April 2026
The Ryburg salt mines are now part of Schweizer Salinen AG, a consortium comprising three mines in Bex, Pratteln and Ryburg. Ryburg is part of the municipality of Möhlin (Canton of Aargau), just a few kilometres from Rheinfelden. This site on the Rhine was already inhabited in Roman times. This is hardly surprising given its proximity to Augusta Raurica, one of the larger Roman cities north of the Alps.
The Möhlinbach
Celts and Romans
The first mention of Möhlin dates back to the year 794, during the Carolingian period. Thereafter, the village was part of the Burgundian Kingdom (888–1032), belonged to the domains of local rulers (including the Zähringers) and, as part of the Fricktal, was a constituent of Outer/Anterior Austria (Vorderösterreich) within the Austrian-Habsburg Empire until 1803. Since 1803, Möhlin has been part of the canton of Aargau.
The chapel
It is not surprising that the Celts settled on these fertile banks as early as 3,000 years ago. Melina or Melin was the Celtic name of the settlement. The old village church of St German was named after the abbot of the monastery of Moutier-Grandval in the 7th century. Later, the church was renamed in honour of St Leodegar, Bishop of Autun. Today, it is a Christian Catholic church situated in a beautifully elevated spot.
St. Leodegar
To the south, the municipality borders the Sonnenberg with its observation tower (632 m above sea level), and to the north, the Rhine.
The elongated village is traversed by the Möhlinbach stream, and the old centre still features buildings in places that reflect agriculture’s importance.
The Storks
It is not only the Celts and Romans who know their way to Möhlin, but storks too. The Storchenwiese Möhlin is a village within a village – albeit for storks, and even a rare black stork can be spotted there!
Nature
As in most places in Switzerland, nature is in good hands at a local level here too. A responsible and respectful approach to nature and the climate begins with the citizens – bottom-up, not top-down!
To the south lie the villages of Magden, Zeiningen and Maisprach (Canton of Basel-Landschaft), along with their moraines, the Jura Mountains, forests, meadows and vineyard terraces. Music is never far away in this region either, and a music trail accompanies walkers.
(Source and further information: Municipality of Möhlin)
