Basel-Landschaft, Canton with districts in Northwestern Switzerland.
Basel-Landschaft is a half-canton in northwestern Switzerland that spreads over wooded hills and cultivated valleys. The territory includes five districts with Liestal as the main town, and several localities sit near the border with France and Germany.
The canton came into being in 1833 when rural communities separated from the city of Basel and formed their own administration. This division allowed villages to represent their interests in agriculture and crafts independently.
The name Basel-Landschaft refers to the countryside surrounding the city of Basel, and even today farms and villages shape the landscape of many valleys. Local markets sell cherry products and regional cheese that visitors can taste and take home with them.
Regional trains and buses link the individual districts to each other, and travelers can reach most places comfortably by rail. Hiking trails and cycling routes run through the hilly landscape and provide access to smaller villages away from the main lines.
In Laufental, the southernmost district, residents speak a French-influenced dialect that differs noticeably from the rest of Basel German. This area only joined Basel-Landschaft from the canton of Bern in 1994 and brought its own linguistic coloring with it.
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