From the Saane to the Aare

From the Gümmenen train station, the path runs after crossing the main road over the Underi Gümmenau to the Chatzestyg. At the forest hillside edge, one descends on a stair path to the Haselau pasture. At the highway viaduct, there is a short detour to the forest, but soon returns to the flood dam. At the Saanesteg, the left bank is followed. Soon, the floodplain landscape where the Saane and the Aare meet is reached. Opposite catches the eye the Oberruntigencliff, where once the Oltigen castle stood on its foothills. Legends and horror stories tell of evil castle lords, jealousy dramas, as well as murder and manslaughter. Through the wilderness of the Oltigematt nature reserve, the path goes between reed-covered ponds along a path lined with ashes and willows to Wittenberg. Soon the Niederried reservoir comes into view. The path also leads here along unique water landscapes. Following is the power plant and at Niederried near Kallnach, the course of the Aare is left for a short time. Over the hillside edge of the Bargenholz one returns to the bank of the Aare, which is crossed at the weir. Over a historical wooden bridge one shortly after reaches the medieval town of Aarberg.

Background: The Niederried reservoir is considered a nature reserve of national importance. Around 10,000 water birds winter here. The floodplain landscape in the dammed section of the Aare also hosts numerous plant and animal species that are considered endangered. Among ponds, oxbow lakes, wet meadows, and floodplain forests are hiding for example beavers, tree frogs, grass snakes as well as grey and silver herons. Shortly before Aarberg, part of the Aare water is diverted into the Old Aare. In contrast, the main current of the Aare, since the Jura water correction, flows through the Hagneck canal into Lake Biel.