Waldenburg, the SAC-Waldweidhütte and Bergwirtschaft Waldweide

29 November 2024

Waldenburch was first mentioned in a document in 1244. The name originates from Walenburg, which translates to “castle of the Welscher,” referring to the French-speaking people of Switzerland. In the early Middle Ages, the Alsatian monastery of Murbach owned the Waldenburg area. The Lords of Froburg were their successors.

After the opening of the Gotthard Pass around 1230, Hermann von Froburg founded Waldenburg. The Bishop of Basel acquired the town in 1366, and in 1400, it fell to the city of Basel.

In 1525, Waldenburg had a hammer mill and an iron forge, later converted into a paper mill. These craft businesses utilised the water power of the Frenke stream.

Waldenburg became the district capital of the new canton of Basel-Landschaft in 1833. After the traffic over the Oberer Hauenstein Pass came to a standstill due to railway construction, the municipality introduced the clock industry in 1853. Specialists from the Jura started this venture.

Source and further information: Municipality of Waldenburg; B. Degen, Waldenburg, Historisches Lexicon der Schweiz)