ViaBerna - stage 09 Bern – Münsingen

The start gives you a look at Bern’s grumpy heraldic animal in the Bear Park. Following the Aare, it then goes through old tree stock to Schwellenmätteli. Pause and take in the south view of the Old City of Bern, the cathedral and the rushing of the Aare. After passing under the magnificent Kirchenfeldbrücke bridge, you will see the proud Federal Palace, quickly followed by the Schönausteg footbridge and Dählhölzli Zoo. The route takes you past the enclosures of the zoo into Elfenau nature reserve. The Aare is a constant companion on this hike. The riverside landscapes with their ponds, reed beds, aquatic birds and gnarled old trees are particularly charming. Through the riverside forest and past Muribad river pool, you reach Auguetbrügg, a covered wooden bridge from 1832. At this point you cross onto the opposite side of the Aare. A little further up the Aare, you leave the course of the river, cross the waterfall at idyllic Jägerheim and enter southern Belpmoos. You cross this very flat and intensively farmed area to Vehweid at the foot of Belpberg. You reach the destination of the hiking trail, the Parkbad at Schützenfahrbrügg in Münsingen, via the hidden farms of the Upper and Lower Aare.

The hike gives an exclusive view from the Aare to the Old City of Bern. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a fascinating place with imposing sandstone buildings and unmistakable charm. The little lanes and porches are also classically Bern.

Swimming in the Aare is the most popular sport in Bern! In good weather, residents of Bern love to splash about in the Aare and enjoy river swimming or “Aareböötle” (rubber boats) in the summer. Hikers can obviously also enjoy a refreshing dip in the greenish-blue water ...

Dählhölzli Zoo is a popular destination and local recreation area on the Aare near the city of Bern. The zoo provides a habitat for more than 200 species of animal. These are mainly animals from northern Europe. But you can discover animals from all over the world in the vivarium.

Elfenau is a nature reserve and public park on the Aare near the city of Bern. The stately home was once the residence of emigrant Russian Grand Duchess Anna Feodorowna (1781–1860) who had an English park created.

The Auguetbrügg bridge was once four kilometres further south in Hunzigenau and for a long time was an important Aare crossing between Rubigen and Belp. After the construction of the new road bridge, the impressive wooden structure was rebuilt in Auguet and now serves as a link between Muri and Belpmoos for non-motorised traffic.

For many decades, the Aare was squeezed between Thun and Bern. However, floods necessitated a rethink. Renaturalisation work is currently underway. The river bed is being widened and new branches are creating a varied river landscape that will benefit both people and nature.