ViaBerna

You leave Biel on a lovely lakeside path along the Zihl. Passing boat moorings, the castle of Nidau and residential developments in preferred locations, you reach the Port weir which regulates the outflow from lake Biel. A sluice system allows boat traffic to pass through. After the last houses, the path climbs steeply up to Jäissberg which is steeped in history. At the highest point, hidden in the dense undergrowth, a Celtic ring wall of a fortress made of soil and wood from the 1st/2nd century BC has been preserved. Further west, you come across a rampart from the Celtic period and, in the Studen forest, the temple district from Gallo-Roman times, the foundation walls of which have been carefully restored. On the descent to Studen, remains of the entrance gate of Petinesca can be found. The small Roman town formed the centre of the surrounding estates in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

Along railway tracks, warehouses and numerous commercial enterprises, you cross the Alte Aare at Grien and enter the largest contiguous floodplain area in Switzerland. First along the edge of the forest, the path then leads through the floodplain scenery. The slow-flowing Aare has created a multifaceted landscape with watercourses, river arms, softwood floodplains, marshy meadows and amphibian ponds. Since the hydrological correction in the Jura in 1878 and the lowering of water levels, only a small amount of water flowed through the Alte Aare, which led to a diminution of the natural diversity. The last upgrading of the floodplain provided more water flow via a new regulation structure near Aarberg. The protection of the neighbouring communities was improved by raising the flood embankments. Today, significantly more water can flow through the Alte Aare again.

A floodplain landscape is only a biodiverse habitat if the water can shape the landscape and form the most varied biotope structures. The inclusion of deadwood in the course of the river also created a lively diversity of currents and new habitats. Thanks to numerous revitalisations, the branched river courses with their pools, open gravel areas and backwaters now provide a home for beavers, kingfishers and numerous amphibians. At Kappelen, the nearby motorway and the go-cart track somewhat disturb the tranquillity of the hike. In between, however, it is surprisingly quiet, despite the proximity of populated areas and traffic routes. Shortly before Aarberg, you leave the floodplain woodland and pass the sports fields and residential areas to reach the entrance gates of the medieval town.