Riehen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Riehen
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The Fondation Beyeler.
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 Riehen
Location in Switzerland
Riehen
Location in Canton of Basel-Stadt
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Basel-Stadt | |
| District | n.a. | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.87 km2 (4.20 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 278 m (912 ft) | |
| Population
(Jul 2021 )
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| • Total | 21,788 | |
| • Density | 2,004.4/km2 (5,191.4/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4125
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| Surrounded by | Basel, Bettingen, Birsfelden (BL), Grenzach-Wyhlen (DE-BW), Inzlingen (DE-BW), Lörrach (DE-BW), Weil am Rhein (DE-BW) | |
| Twin towns | Miercurea Ciuc(Romania), Mutten (Switzerland) | |
Riehen (which sounds like Rieche in Swiss German) is a cool town in the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland. It's one of only three towns in this canton, along with the big city of Basel and Bettingen.
Riehen is famous for a few things. It has the amazing Fondation Beyeler, which is a private art gallery with awesome artworks. There's also a fun toy museum and lots of green parks where you can relax.
Did you know that Riehen was the very first town in Switzerland to choose a woman for a political job? Her name was Trudy Späth-Schweizer, and she was elected way back in 1958!
Some really famous people lived in Riehen when they were kids. These include the brilliant mathematician Leonhard Euler and the tennis superstar Roger Federer. Pretty cool, right?
Contents
A Look at Riehen's Past
When Was Riehen First Mentioned?
Riehen has a long history! The town was first written about in official papers in the year 1157. Back then, it was called Rieheim.
Where is Riehen Located?
Riehen's Neighbors in Switzerland and Germany
Riehen is in a special spot because it borders towns in both Switzerland and Germany. It's like a meeting point for different countries!
Here are some of the towns close to Riehen:
- In Germany: Lörrach, Weil am Rhein, Inzlingen, and Grenzach-Wyhlen.
- In Switzerland: Basel, Birsfelden, and Bettingen.
Riehen's Landscape
How Big is Riehen?
Riehen covers an area of about 10.86 square kilometers (that's about 4.2 square miles). A big part of this land is used for farming, and another large part is covered by forests.
Almost half of Riehen's land is built up with buildings and roads. There are also some rivers and lakes.
What Does Riehen's Land Look Like?
A lot of Riehen's built-up area has houses and other buildings. Roads and transport paths also take up space. You'll find many parks, green areas, and sports fields too.
The forests are mostly dense woods. Some areas have orchards or small groups of trees. For farming, people grow crops, have pastures for animals, and grow fruit or grapes.
The Rhine River and Borders
Riehen is located on the right side of the Rhine River. It sits right on the border between Switzerland and Germany. There's even a part of Riehen that sticks out like a finger into the Herrenwald forest.
Riehen's Coat of Arms
What Does the Town Symbol Mean?
Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. Riehen's coat of arms is blue and shows six silver bricks. These bricks are arranged in a pattern: one at the top, then two, then three at the bottom.
People of Riehen
How Many People Live in Riehen?
Riehen has a population of about 21,719 people (as of 2022). About 18% of the people living here are from other countries.
Over the last ten years, the number of people in Riehen has stayed pretty much the same. Some people move in, and some move out, but the total number doesn't change much.
What Languages Do People Speak?
Most people in Riehen speak German. It's the most common language by far. Some people also speak French or Italian. A very small number of people speak Romansh.
Where Are People From?
About a quarter of the people in Riehen were born there. Another quarter were born in the same canton (Basel-Stadt). Many others were born in different parts of Switzerland or even outside of Switzerland.
Families and Homes in Riehen
In Riehen, there are many different types of households. Some people live alone, while others live with their families. There are married couples with and without children, and also single parents.
Most of the buildings in Riehen are single-family homes. Many of these homes were built between 1946 and 1960. There are also apartment buildings with different sizes of apartments. Most apartments are lived in all the time.
Important Places in Riehen
Special Buildings and Sites
Riehen has several places that are considered very important to Switzerland's history and culture. These are called "heritage sites of national significance."
Some of these special places include:
- The Beyeler Foundation, a famous art museum.
- The Cemetery am Hörnli with its crematorium.
- The New and Old Wenkenhof with their beautiful parks.
- The Reformed Village Church of St Martin, which has an old wall around it.
- The Wettsteinhäuser, which are home to the Toy Museum and the Village Museum.
- Other important houses like the Colnaghi House, Huber House, and Schaeffer-von Déchend House.
The whole town of Riehen is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites, which means it's a special place to protect.
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Old Wenkenhof
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New Wenkenhof
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Beyeler Foundation
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Toy Museum
How Riehen Works
Jobs and Businesses
Riehen has a low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find a job. Many people work in the service industry, like in shops, offices, or healthcare. Some people work in factories or in construction. A small number of people work in farming or forestry.
Many people who live in Riehen travel to other towns for work, especially to Basel. Also, some people come from other places to work in Riehen.
Beliefs in Riehen
Different Religions
In Riehen, many people belong to the Swiss Reformed Church or are Roman Catholic. There are also people who follow other Christian churches, or are Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu. A large number of people don't belong to any church or religion.
Weather in Riehen
How Much Rain Does Riehen Get?
Riehen gets rain or snow for about 123 days each year. The wettest month is usually June, while March is often the driest.
Learning in Riehen
Schools and Libraries
Many people in Riehen have finished high school, and a good number have gone on to university or other higher education.
Riehen has its own public library called the Gemeindebibliothek Riehen. It has thousands of books and other things to borrow. The library is open many days a year, so there's always time to find something new to read or learn!
Getting Around Riehen
Public Transport
Riehen has two train stations: Riehen and Riehen Niederholz. You can catch trains from here to Basel very often. The Basel tram system also runs through Riehen, all the way to the German border.
Famous People from Riehen
Riehen has been home to some truly amazing people!
- Leonhard Euler (1707–1783): A super smart mathematician who grew up here.
- Trudy Späth-Schweizer (1908–1990): She made history in 1958 by becoming the first woman to hold a political job in Switzerland.
- Rolf M. Zinkernagel (born 1944): A professor who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1996 for his work in science.
- Roger Federer (born 1981): One of the greatest tennis players of all time! He lived in Riehen until he was 10 years old.
- Beat Jans (born 1964): He grew up in Riehen and is now a member of the federal council, a very important political position in Switzerland.
See also
In Spanish: Riehen para niños
