ViaBerna - Stage 07 Aarberg - Frauenkappelen

From the medieval town of Aarberg, the path leads to the course of the Aare, with a crossing to the other shore at the weir. The route runs through the forest in the Bargeholz and returns to the Aare at Niederried. From the weir there, there is a beautiful view of the natural floodplain landscapes at the reservoir. Pristine landscapes also shape the picture in the Oltigematt near Wittenberg. Shortly after, you reach the Saane confluence, and the path follows a short section of the Saane, crosses the Saane footbridge, and returns to the Aare. Soon after, the mighty facilities of the now shut down Mühleberg nuclear power plant come into view, which you bypass in a curve. After passing the Mühleberg weir, the third on this hike, you reach the southern shore of the Wohlensee at Fuchsenried, which appears surprisingly wild. Incoming streams have carved deep gullies into the soft sandstone, forcing the hiking path into numerous bends. After the Jaggisbachau follows the ascent to Studenweid and then to Frauenkappelen.

"Walk a little along the Aare / Along the beautiful, beautiful, beautiful green Aare," sings the Bernese band "Stiller Has." The Aare is also the constant companion on this hike. The Aare is the longest purely Swiss river. It originates from the Oberaargletscher, flows through Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, passes the federal city of Bern, flows into Lake Biel, follows the southern foot of the Jura, and flows into the Rhine near Koblenz.

In the floodplain landscapes along the Aare, you repeatedly encounter traces of an animal that was extinct in Switzerland 200 years ago. Although beavers are seldom seen as they are nocturnal, their traces, including gnawed and felled trees, are impressive. The increasing number of beaver lodges shows that the protected rodents are thriving again. With their constructions, they create unique floodplain landscapes.

The Mühleberg nuclear power plant began operation in 1972, was shut down by the Bernese power company BKW in 2019, and the dismantling of the nuclear parts is to be completed by 2030. The Mühleberg hydroelectric power plant has been producing electricity with Aare water since 1920. Around 45,000 households in the Bern region are supplied with energy. The water power of the Aare was once also used by mills, as the place name Mühleberg confirms.

The Niederried reservoir is a nationally significant nature reserve where about 10,000 water birds overwinter. The Wohlensee also provides habitat for countless aquatic creatures. At the same time, the reservoir near the city of Bern attracts people seeking recreation.