Mittelland Route
Overview
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Distance 51 km
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Ascent 320 m
Intro
Lac de Neuchâtel: chirping in the reeds, waves lapping at the gentle shore, the Jura shimmering in the distance. Over 100 species of birds breed in the Grande Cariçaie, the 40-km-long marsh and reed belt along the southern shores of the lake.
Description
The Lakes Region is considered to be Switzerland’s vegetable gardens. It wasn’t always so: On 25 July 1867 the Federal Assembly approved 5 million francs for a first correction of the Jura waters. What used to be a marsh where many people contracted malaria was to improve considerably by means of a sophisticated concept. For one thing, the Aare was rerouted to flow from Aarberg into Lake Biel, which resulted in the new Hagneck channel. Lake Biel, Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten were lowered by 2.5 m. This is also the time when the famous Swiss painter Albert Anker (1831–1910) created some of his works. His studio in the Grand Marsh town of Ins was preserved almost in its original condition and is available for guided tours.
No guided tour is required to leisurely pedal through the vegetable paradise and to admire and cross the Rotary Bridge. The 250 m wooden arch symbolizes the gulf between German- and French-speaking Switzerland and once was one of the centrepieces of the EXPO 02 national exposition. The connecting bridge between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten is closed to motorised traffic, but not to pedestrians, bikers and inline skaters. If you need a break, head for Cudrefin. There is a lawn for sunbathing on the lake. Restaurants are also available, small but serving scrumptious food. If you prefer to rest in the sand, continue and pick one of the sand beaches in Yvonand. With a little imagination, it feels like the Mediterranean here.
Back on the bike, you will catch sight now and then of the snow-capped Alps in the distance, but mostly you will appreciate the lovely area on charming Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. Listen to the birds chirping in the country’s longest reed area. The “Grande Cariçaie” nature preserve is 40 km long. The bike route from Yvonand to Yverdon continues along the main road and offers various access opportunities and vistas of this “jungle”; at the Cheseaux islands observation tower, for example, or the “Centre de Champ Pittet”. It’s worth climbing the wooden steps to enjoy the view from the tower – an exciting look at the life of kingfishers, frogs, garden warblers, white herons and the riverside forests. Shortly before Yverdon, directly on the bike route, be sure you stop at the Menhires at Clendy site. These pre-historic standing stones, erected more than 5000 years ago, will remind you a little of the “hanging stones” of Stonehenge.
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 |
Ins
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Yverdon-les-Bains
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| Ascent |
320 m
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| Descent |
320 m
|
| Distance |
51 km
|
| Distance on tarred ways |
45 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
6 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Theme |
Along Water
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Quick Facts
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