Through the forest to the fortified Laupen

From Niederwangen S-Bahn station, cross the footbridge into the village and climb forestward near the apartment buildings. Splendid – although visually disturbed by high-voltage lines – views back toward the city and mountains. On springy, alternately narrow and wider forest paths to the Ried clearing. Along the northern edge of the Niederwangenhubel clearing, continue west on a narrow path, mostly through dense fern cover. At the Bruucheren hut (to Rosshäusern/station 1h, to Oberwangen/station 40 min) you are in the center of the mighty forest. It is remarkable that this large forest area (1400 ha) on predominantly arable land has withstood the clearance waves of the early Middle Ages. Early on, the surrounding farms held customary usage rights, with great importance given to Acherum (the acorn-fattening of pigs). The forest, then mainly deciduous wood, had to meet the construction and energy needs of the ever-growing population, so it was sometimes severely “cut, eaten, and degraded.” Today the Burgergemeinde Bern manages the forest. Past the forester’s house in the Heitere forest clearing to the western edge of the forest and to the beautiful shaded spot on Bramberg, where the monument for the Battle of Laupen stands. Splendid views over the Sense region and the western Prealps. North past the hamlet of Bramberg, mostly on asphalt to the nearby hamlet of Wyden, where the magnificent Marschall oak stands. Named after a formerly resident family, the protected pedunculate oak truly measures royal dimensions (crown width 22 m, height 24 m, approx. 250 years old). Through the nearby Laupenholz, descend to the castle, into the small town, and to the Laupen station.