Gürbe–Sense
Overview
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Distance 43 km
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Ascent 420 m
Intro
Ride from the historic capital city through the Wangen Valley full of industry and commerce, then head straight for the Sense and follow the river to Laupen with its magnificent castle. Pass by fields and woodlands across the Biberen plateau towards Kerzers.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-74/stage-2
Description
With six kilometres of arcades, the federal capital of Bern is in effect home to one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. In summer, the sandstone canopies provide welcome shade – or keep you dry in a sudden downpour. Admittedly, you will have no such luxury on this cycling route from Bern to Aarberg. Exit the city via Effingerstrasse, following the traffic and tramlines until you reach Europaplatz.
At Europaplatz, you will see the House of Religions. Representatives from eight religious communities – Alevism, Baháʼí, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism – coexist here and engage in dialogue with the public, a hitherto unheard of occurrence. Cycling through the Wangental valley, you will arrive at Thörishaus by the river Sense. But before you get there, you will be immersed in a world of railways, motorways, industry and poppies waving in the wind. The Sense rises in the Gantrisch region from two headstreams named the Warme Sense (Warm Sense) and Kalte Sense (Cold Sense). On its way to its mouth, the river passes through unique gorges in an often canyon-like landscape. The section through the floodplain makes for wonderful cycling, hugging the Sense all the way before it flows into the Saane a short distance further on.
The quaint little town of Laupen looks gorgeous as it comes into view, with its 12th century castle visible from miles away. Kriechenwil, Gammen and the Fribourg enclave of Wallenbuch hark back to times gone by too. And Jerisberghof is home to a 300-year-old museum directly along the route. The Althuus Farmers’ Museum (Bauernmuseum Althuus) with its shingle roof is a truly outstanding piece of architecture. This area hasn’t yet been swallowed up by the hustle and bustle of modern life, or so it seems at least. The Jura mountains and their 1,606-metre crowning glory of the Chasseral beckon in the distance. The highest point in the Bernese Jura is a constant feast for the eyes.
Then comes a nice potential spot to take a break at the 531-metre high pass in Mösli. The view down onto the Grand Marais is magnificent and, what’s more, you can even stop for a picnic. Finally, Golaten will welcome you with a colourful bouquet of flowers. The heads of lettuce don’t seem to mind it here either. No wonder the Grand Marais is known as the “vegetable garden of Switzerland” where around a quarter of domestic produce is harvested.
Then comes the final stretch, following the Aare to Aarberg, where this bike tour ends. The historic town centre is worth seeing. Picturesque facades and cosy restaurants give the well looked-after town square its magical touch.
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 |
Bern
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Aarberg
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| Ascent |
420 m
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| Descent |
500 m
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| Distance |
43 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
35 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
8 km
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
