On the Aare riverside trail through the Elfenau

Swiss Mitteland (Central Plateau): Popular hiking trail From the Bärenpark bus stop on route 12, walk down to the riverbank and, following the Aare, walk along the good footpath and past the magnificent, well-established trees of the so-called "Englische Anlage" (English Garden) to the Schwellenmätteli. Gripping views to the southern aspect of the beautifully-ordered Old Town, to the Minster and the rushing, whirling rapids of the river Aare never fail to evoke admiration and wonderment. 

After passing under the 120-year-old Kirchenfeld bridge, you will enjoy impressive views of the Parliament Building. A beautiful footpath lined with birch trees leads you to the Schönausteg footbridge. A visit to the nearby zoo is extremely worthwhile. Even if you don't go there, you will still pass alongside the enclosures of various animal species (including water birds, ibex and bison). The pathway becomes asphalted again at the northern periphery of the Elfenau nature reserve. To the upper left you will see the former Grand-Duke of Bern's residence. The floodplain landscape with its ponds, crystal-clear streams, extensive reed beds, water plants and birds and gnarled old trees exudes a special charm. The Bodenacher ferry allows you to reach the opposite river bank. We continue through the alluvial forest and past the Muribad to the "Auguetbrügg", the covered wooden bridge dating from 1832 that was moved here from Hunzigen in 1973/74. Further along the eastern bank of the Aare, the trail touches the exquisitely renaturalised Märchligen and the broad Kleinhöchstetten protected wetlands. Diverse alluvial forest atmospheres continue to characterise the onward journey to the Schützenfar bridge near the Münsingen Parkbad (swimming pool), from where the route finally leads on asphalt to Münsingen railway station.