«A little bit along the Aare»

Starting from the starting point, you descend to the riverbank. There, first following the BearPark, you follow the Aare through the magnificent old tree population of the English Garden to the Schwellenmätteli. Fascinating views of the beautifully structured old town south front, of the cathedral, and the rushing Aare waves invite you to pause repeatedly. After passing under the Kirchenfeld Bridge, you enjoy the impressive view of the Federal Palace. After the Schönausteg, you pass a few enclosures of the Dählhölzli Zoo and may catch a glimpse of an animal or two. At the northern edge of the Elfenau nature reserve, the asphalt then ends. The floodplain landscape with its ponds, crystal-clear water veins, extensive reed beds, aquatic plants and birds, and the gnarly old trees exudes a special charm. Through the riparian forest by the Muribad it goes to Auguetbrügg, the covered wooden bridge from 1832 relocated here by Hunziken in 1973 / 74. On the east bank, you continue through the renaturalized Raintalau and Chlihöchstetten Au to the Hunzigebrügg near Rubigen. Here you turn left, leave the Aare, cross the motorway, and soon reach the Hunzigenau moor after following the marking right at the well-known music event location Mühle Hunziken. The last part of the route runs along the Giesse stream to Münsingen station.

Background: It is undisputed that the diverse Aare landscape between Thun and Bern invites you to hike and experience nature. The Bernese dialect band Stiller Has with Endo Anaconda sang about it 30 years ago: "När göh si o no chli der Aare naa, dere schöne, schöne grüne Aare naa." But the large floodplain area also provides an important habitat for flora and fauna. Among other things, this section of the Aare is counted among the landscapes and natural monuments of national importance.