Alter Bernerweg
Overview
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Distance 43 km
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Ascent 240 m
Intro
Through flat land and geometrically divided farming landscape, following the high-tech railway line. Close by, the idyllic Burgäschisee lake. Past the bird islands in the Aare, into Canton Aargau to Oftringen, the hub of the Swiss motor trade.
Description
As the name implies, Kirchberg features a church on a little mountain. Since 1506, it’s as if it has been watching over the endlessly flowing water of the river Emme and the bustle of the village. In Ersigen, why not have a picnic to fuel you for the 43 kilometres of cycling ahead? Fresh goods from the bakery or the farm shops would be the obvious choice. In the old centre of the former linear settlement formed along a road and a stream (German: Strassendorf and Bachzeilendorf), you will be struck by the farmhouses characteristic of the Bernese country house style. These are located on the banks of the narrow Ösch, a tributary of the river Aare of around 28 kilometres in length.
Just as fluid are the transitions between the old farmhouses and the new housing developments, while the views of the Jura mountain range remain steady as a rock. The river plain boasts an eye-catching “symphony in yellow”, with dandelions and fields of oil seed rape and sunflowers. The way there from here is similarly wild: the area is a haven for wasp spiders, European stonechat, medicinal herbs and wild animals and plants. It’s leisurely riding beside the Ösch through Oberösch to Niederösch. The stately building in Koppigen is Oeschberg Horitcultural School (Gartenbauschule Oeschberg). This is where the Swiss trade fair for horticulture, orcharding and vegetable cultivation takes place every other year.
In summer, you can bathe in the lakes of Burgäschisee and Inkwilersee, sail in little boats (known as “Böötli” in the local dialect), sunbathe and admire the birds and insects. Once you have passed through the Önztäli valley, you will find your next bird paradise at Stadönz. In this area, there’s something for the fish in the river Aare too: at Bannwil hydroelectric power station, a new fishway (fish bypass) has been built. At last, salmon, barbel and trout will be able to get past the power station when swimming upstream too. It’s not far to Aarwangen now, just through the hamlet of Meiniswil and bucolic Banfeld. On arrival, it’s worth taking a detour along the river Aare to visit the mediaeval castle. It was built in the 13th century to protect the river crossing.
It protects the railway line known as the “Bipperlisi” in the local dialect too, with its crossing gate and traffic lights. This narrow gauge railway between Solothurn and Niederbipp was opened in 1918. Nowadays the route extends further to Langenthal. But it’s just as leisurely to cycle onwards to Wynau. It’s worth stopping for a picnic at the tall, slender Saalkirche church, which dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. You will now be leaving the most picturesque part of the stage behind you. While the river Aare is in close proximity, industry and cars have since taken the throne in this area. But luckily, there are nice wide cycle paths between Murgenthal, Rothrist and Oftringen, your destination for this stage.
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 |
Kirchberg
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Oftringen
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| Ascent |
240 m
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| Descent |
340 m
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| Distance |
43 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
40 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
3 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
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