Aare Canoe
Overview
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Distance 17 km
Intro
Quieter than the roads, the River Aare tranquilly makes its way in northern Oberaargau on through Switzerland's Mittelland. Far from everyday hectic, here you find yourself paddling through the country accompanied by the peaceful sound of church and cowbells.
Description
The quaint little town of Wangen an der Aare lies in the Oberaargau region at the southern foot of the Jura mountains. The starting point is below the castle; the hydropower plant at Bannwil can be felt shortly after getting started. The first section doesn’t throw up too many problems – apart from the fact that the slow current calls for more paddling. However, the dammed up, and consequently higher, water level means you see more of the surrounding landscapes. Looking out between trees and reed beds, you discover rural Switzerland, with farms and cow fields that reach almost to the water’s edge. Here, church bells and cowbells ring out in competition with one another.
The closer you get to the Bannwil hydropower plant, the thicker the vegetation becomes, opening up a beautiful nature reserve to paddle through. The trampled paths and gnawed trees left behind on the riverbank by the beavers are easy to spot. When approaching Vogelroupfi island, therefore, use the wider river branch on the right. For nature conservation reasons, entering the island, passing through the canal and launching and retrieving boats are not permitted.
You can carry your canoe on the left-hand riverbank to bypass the hydropower plant. Unfortunately, small boats cannot be transported, so it may be helpful to bring a boat trolley with you. The current now finally makes it a little easier to press ahead. Between the overgrown banks, you feel far away from civilisation; there’s no chaos and stress here. On the small sandbanks, you can take the time to enjoy this peace and quiet to the fullest.
The forests start to thin out and in the distance the tower of Aarwangen Castle appears. Following its construction in the 13th century as well as that of the Aare crossing, Aarwangen came to be a market town and customs post. Among the licensed market towns, for a brief period it was actually the only place where the trade of salt, iron, steel and cloth was permitted. Situated on the border between the Burgundians (French-speaking Switzerland) and the Alemannians (German-speaking Switzerland), Aarwangen was a transshipment point for trade between the two parts of the country.
The effect of the Wynau hydropower plant is clearly noticeable as early as Aarwangen, meaning the current starts off gently. The reservoir is a nature conservation area and landing ashore on the left-hand side near the hydropower plant is not permitted.
The “Wynau Cheer” rapids follow. The waves suddenly curl and the river pulsates and pushes against small canoes while it tries to find its way between islands of gravel. This area is home to one of the few unspoilt sections of the Aare river. An extraordinarily diverse selection of aquatic creatures has been found living in this free-flowing paradise. The route is clear on the left-hand side, and with a bit of concentration the final section to the finish is easily manageable.
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 |
Wangen a.A.
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Murgenthal
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| Distance |
17 km
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Easy
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| Theme |
Along Water
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/canoeing-in-switzerland... |
Quick Facts
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