Rheinfelden (German pronunciation: [ˈʁaɪnˌfɛldn̩] ⓘ; Alemannic German: Badisch-Rhyfälde, pronounced [ˈb̥ad̥ɪʃʁifæld̥ə]) is a town in the district of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, across from Rheinfelden, Switzerland, and 15 km east of Basel. The population is 32,919 as of 2020, making it the second most populated town of the district after Lörrach.

Geography

Rheinfelden is located on the Swiss-German border, between the High Rhine to the south and the Dinkelberg hills to the north in the district of Lörrach. It borders the Swiss town of the same name across the Rhine river, and the towns of Grenzach-Wyhlen, Inzlingen, Steinen, Maulburg, Schopfheim, and Schwörstadt in Germany.

Communities

Rheinfelden consists of a relatively young town core (founded in the late 19th century), two formerly independent villages (Nollingen and Warmbach), and seven villages which were incorporated into the town between 1972 and 1975. These are:

  • Degerfelden (alem. Degerfälde).
  • Minseln (alem. Meisele).
  • Herten (alem. Herte).
  • Nordschwaben (alem. Nordschwoobe).
  • Adelhausen (alem. Adelhuuse).
  • Eichsel (alem. Eiggsle)
  • Karsau (alem. Charsau) and its community of Beuggen (alem. Büügge).

Apart from the town core, the villages forming Rheinfelden date from the early Middle Ages. Partly because of this, a teasing animosity exists between the villages with their longer history and traditions, and the industrial town core with its diverse population of recent origin.

Transport

Air

The town is served by EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, located 30 km (19 mi) which is half an hour drive north west of Rheinfelden. Zurich Airport can also be reached, it is located 78 km (48 mi) which is an hour drive south east of Rheinfelden.

Twin towns – sister cities

Rheinfelden (Baden) is twinned with:

Notable people

Sport