From the castle park to the Alpine view

The landmark of the community of Schlosswil is the magnificent Wyl Castle. The building dates back to the 12th century. Originally, it was the ancestral seat of the Barons of Wiler. Today it is privately owned. The 43 m high bergfried is one of the tallest defensive towers in Switzerland. A magnificent lime tree avenue over 300 m long connects the castle with a group of mighty beeches called the "Buechesääli." The hiking route begins at the Schlosswil/Kreuz bus stop and leads past the castle through the avenue to the Hürnberg forest. At Schufelacher, turn right towards Herolfingen, but the village is bypassed along the slope. On a steep forest path, you quickly gain height, then continue along the ridge to Hürnberg and from there up to the group of houses Ballenbüel. The viewpoint of the same name, 5 minutes away, offers beautiful views down to the Aare valley and the Churzenberg region; behind them stretch the Bernese Alps, the Niesen, and the Stockhorn range. The route continues as a scenic ridge path. Via Ober Hötschigen, you reach a spur of the Hürnberg forest. After a short, moderately steep descent, you reach the farmstead Zälg and from there, unfortunately now entirely on asphalt, into the village center and to the train station of Grosshöchstetten.