The Oberbaselbiet is a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path landscape among the chains of the Jura hills with lush green forests, blooming meadows and charming villages. Unmistakably, a paradise for hikers!
The villages of the Oberbaselbiet have always been rather poor. Farmers could survive only if they did additional jobs. Many took to weaving of silk ribbons, a craft introduced by the Huguenots at the end of the 16th century. Because operating the mechanical looms was even harder than working in the fields it became men’s work. As a consequence, the agricultural work was left to the women.
The flourishing silk industry slowed to a crawl by the 1929 stock market crash and was further diminished during World War II. Its heyday is connected with the name of Johannes Scholer (1728-1812), also known as ‘Weaver John’.