Seeland-Solothurn-Weg
Overview
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Distance 17 km
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Duration 4 h 10 min
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Ascent 130 m
Intro
A lovely hike along a riverside path to the Emmenschachen water meadows, where the Emme flows into the Aare. Industrial buildings contrast with leisure opportunities on the water. Through a gateway and over bridges to enter the history of baroque Solothurn.
Description
Bätterkinden in the canton of Bern lies on the Emme between Bern and Solothurn. The Emme forms the border with the neighbouring municipality of Utzenstorf. You cross the river through the beautiful garden of Landshut Castle. It's the only moated castle in the canton of Berne that is still intact. The castle sits on a sandstone rock in the former flood plain of the Emme and houses the Swiss Museum of Game and Hunting.
The route continues along the banks of the Emme. Between Utzenstorf and Biberist, you come across several pieces of Swiss industrial history. It begins with the disused Utzenstorf paper mill, where a new logistics centre is to be built today. Then a short climb leads into the Altisberg forest before continuing along the renatured Emme river. The trail passes the Gerlafingen steelworks, where steel is still melted down today, to Biberist, where the massive former paper mill founded in 1862 catches the eye. This plant has also been closed down, and the large premises will be used for new industrial and commercial purposes.
The Emme between Gerlafingen and the confluence with the Aare has been completely renatured by the canton of Solothurn, with the river bed widened from 25 metres to up to 70 metres. In addition to resting areas, a 50-metre-long log ramp was built in Gerlafingen to enable the fish to swim back to their spawning grounds, replacing the former ground sill, which was insurmountable for fish.
The path continues along the Emme canal past steam pipes that are not exactly nice to look at but transport the waste heat from the KEBAG waste incineration plant. This output is used to heat houses or industrial buildings.
After three hours, you reach the area where the Emme flows into the Aare. The massive, imposing cellulose factory at the Attisholz site can be seen to the east – this factory has also been closed down. Today you can experience more of an urban feeling on the premises, with culture, food, swimming or a large industrial playground.
However, the trail then leads in the opposite direction along the Aare to Solothurn. You are now in the Aare Flumenthal nature reserve, a water and migratory bird sanctuary.
Once in Solothurn, the riverside promenade invites you to enjoy a well-earned, refreshing drink. Solothurn is regarded as the finest baroque town in Switzerland. Renaissance and Baroque buildings, eleven churches and chapels, fountains, towers and, of course, the imposing St. Ursen Cathedral bear witness to the town's contemporary history.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Bätterkinden
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Solothurn
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
130 m
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| Descent |
180 m
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| Distance |
17 km
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| Duration |
4 h 10 min
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| Duration back |
4 h 15 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Season |
All year
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Quick Facts
Route number
