Oberaargau riverside idyll

From Wangen on the Aare station, one enters the historic center of the small town through an avenue of trees. Through the Zytgloggeturm and the bridge gate, you reach the venerable covered wooden bridge. After crossing it, the path leads downstream past the swimming pool and the weapons square. The path then narrows to a trail right on the shore of the Aare. From the Walliswilsteg, a drive leads through a charming landscape to the Berkenbrücke. When crossing the covered wooden bridge, there is a beautiful view of Vogelroupfi, a breeding and resting place for waterfowl in the middle of the Aare. The corner at Stadönz is also beautiful, where the wild Önz flows into the sluggishly flowing Aare. At the Bannwil hydroelectric power station, the masses of water thunder down. Over the weir, one changes to the left Aare bank and shortly thereafter turns again onto the riverbank path. In the Niderfeld, the path becomes a narrow trail again and after the large Aare loop, the castle Aarwangen reflected in the water is already visible. Along the right bank of the broadly flowing Aare, one reaches the Wynauer Rank, an impressive river landscape, as well as the church of Wynau. In Murgenthal, before the covered wooden bridge, one climbs from the Aare shore to the station.

Background: The buildings of the well-preserved medieval old town of Wangen on the Aare reflect the history and significance of the small town as a former river crossing and trading place. About halfway is the striking castle Aarwangen, a former country governor's castle from the 13th century. It served as an administrative seat for centuries and is a defining landmark of the region. Shortly before Murgenthal stands the church of Wynau, an important sacred building with medieval origins, notable for its location and architecture. A witness to more recent times is the Wynau hydroelectric power station. This began operation in 1895 as one of the first large electricity plants in Switzerland and was replaced by a new building in 1996.