Seeland-Solothurn-Weg
Overview
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Distance 14 km
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Duration 3 h 15 min
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Ascent 80 m
Intro
From bilingual Biel along the banks of the Aare to the impressive wooden bridge at Büren. Medieval town centre with many sightseeing attractions. At the gateway to the city, a surprise with the Häftli nature reserve around the old course of the Aare.
Description
Biel/Bienne is not only a city where bilingualism is alive and well but also a watchmaking and industrial town. For instance, the Swatch watch company has its headquarters in Biel/Bienne with one of the world's largest timber structures, resembling a gigantic "Tatzelwurm".
The second stage of the Seeland-Solothurn Trail starts at Biel/Bienne railway station and immediately passes Nidau Castle. The castle was a massive water fortress until late in the 19th century. After the Jura water correction, the water level dropped by around two metres.
You cross the Nidau-Büren canal shortly after the castle at the Port ship lock. The hike now leads along the Aare, which is actually not the Aare itself but bears witness to the Jura water correction and is thus an entirely man-made part of the river, to Büren an der Aare. In those days, the Aare flowed in broad meanders from Aarberg towards Solothurn. The river's path at the time led to devastating floods, as the water could spread almost unhindered over the flat terrain of the Seeland.
The Jura water correction took place between 1868 and 1891. The Aare was diverted into Lake Biel through the construction of the Aare-Hagneck Canal, the Broye and Zihl were straightened and deepened, and the Nidau-Büren Canal was dug.
After about two hours along the canal, the trail crosses the bridge between Orpund and Scheuren. A few minutes later, you reach two hamlets in Meienried, where you cross the Alte Aare, once a mighty river, now just a stream at this point. On the opposite side of the Nidau-Büren canal lies the Häftli nature reserve. Here the Alte Aare makes a semicircle in the direction of the Jura and borders a floodplain-like wetland. From the Häftli observation tower, you have magnificent views over the nature reserve.
The last hour of hiking takes you to Büren an der Aare. The beautiful, historic buildings are well worth a short detour into the small town or onto the massive wooden bridge, which was rebuilt after an arson attack in 1989 and inaugurated in 1991. The 108-metre-long bridge has been of supra-regional importance for centuries.
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 |
Biel
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Büren a. A.
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
80 m
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| Descent |
70 m
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| Distance |
14 km
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| Duration |
3 h 15 min
|
| Duration back |
3 h 15 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
All year
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| Theme |
Along Water
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
