ViaGottardo
Overview
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Distance 15 km
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Duration 4 h
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Ascent 420 m
Intro
From Olten the route leads through the protected cultural landscape of Ruttigerwald. The trail continues alongside the River Aare to Aarburg, where a baroque castle is enthroned above the river. You finally reach Zofingen through an area of agglomeration.
Description
From the train station in Olten, take the main road past the old wooden bridge and cross the Aare on the new bridge. A narrow footbridge follows the river on the other side. Now through an underpass and there you are, on the hiking trail in the Ruttiger nature preserve. Because of its east-south exposure, the low-lying location and seclusion, it is quite mild here and windless. The climate is ideal for the development of flora and fauna thriving in the warmth. Along the route, the Aare River, the Sälischlössli and Aarburg castles are always in sight. The latter, the landmark of the historic small town of Aarburg, was built in the late 12th century, but it is unclear who built the castle before the Habsburgs took it over in the 13th century.
From the small court (Höfli) you have a very good view of the church situated in front of the castle, and as you cross the Aare bridge, you have the opportunity to see the amazing natural phenomenon of the spirit level of Aarburg. The rocky promontory jutting out from the east toward the Aare blocks the small passage and forces the river to change its course and form a sharp bend. The Tych stream joining the Aare in the opposite direction and the diversion of the river’s current create the whirlpool in the water.
Through the old town the route now goes uphill and follows the massive castle walls. Over Spiegelberg hill the trail enters the forest and continues to the clearing at Wartburghof. After the Bad Luterbach restaurant and the subsequent short section along the creek you cross the highway and continue through the residential neighbourhoods of Küngoldingen before you arrive in the old town of Zofingen. It is one of the best preserved historic districts in Switzerland. Its current appearance dates from the 17th and early 18th century when the wooden houses from the Middle Ages were gradually replaced by the stone buildings of the Baroque architecture.
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 |
Olten
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Zofingen
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Ascent |
420 m
|
| Descent |
400 m
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| Distance |
15 km
|
| Duration |
4 h
|
| Duration back |
4 h
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
All year
|
Quick Facts
Route number
