ViaBerna

Crossing the Schützenfahr bridge and climbing slightly, the hiking trail runs along a terrace above the course of the Aare towards Thun. At the Ochsematt farm and past the Talgut bridge, you can continue on a narrow path along the overgrown riverbank. Here, the Aare flows in its traditional, narrow river bed at quite some speed. Through a natural floodplain forest you reach the idyllic confluence of the Rotache, which rises in the Langenegg area. Next to the course of the Aare behind the dams, you find numerous ponds, pools and watercourses.

The unassuming Glütschbach stream flows into the Aare at Uttigen. Before the Kander was diverted into lake Thun, the Aare valley up to Uttigen was frequently flooded by this wild mountain river from the Simmental. At the Uttigen bridge, there are often spectacular, sometimes dangerous scenes to watch as water sports enthusiasts glide through the notorious rapids in their rubber boats. Above and below the railway bridge, there are areas important for securing the groundwater supply in the Aare valley. By reducing the downstream speed and widening the outflow channel, it should be possible to improve the feeding of groundwater flows in the future. A major revitalisation project is being planned between Uttigen and Heimberg.

The nearby town of Thun starts to announce itself as the paths become wider and the floodplain forest is left behind. Along the extensive military area and past the Aare bath at Schwäbispark, you reach the centre of Thun. Its famous castle is enthroned high up on the hill. On the riverside path along an arm of the Aare river and across the Upper Aare and Scherzligen sluices, the stage ends at the train station. In addition to regulating the outflow from lake Thun through the sluices, a flood tunnel also helps to ensure that Thun is largely spared the flooding of earlier times. Right by the train station, the pleasure boats dock in the harbour basin. If you are lucky, you might be able to admire the only remaining paddle steamer, the Blümlisalp.