Waterfalls and viticulture

The hike starts at the La Neuveville train station, the gate to the Grand Chasseral. Through the gate of the Tour de Rive – one of the seven city towers – you enter directly into the picturesque old town. On the Rue de Marché you stroll along a small stream that connects the two banner bearer fountains. Then continue through the colorful alleys until you turn left at the crossroads with signs into Rue des Mornets towards Combe du Pilouvi. On the way to the gorge, the hike initially follows the Ruisseau de Vaux stream, passes through a small vineyard and below the Château du Schlossberg. The stream plunges over a few cascades into the depth in the wild romantic Combe du Pilouvi. The exit from the gorge takes place after about 260 meters of ascent via a wooden staircase. Arriving at the top, turn right and follow the path through the forest to the pavilion, which offers a wonderful view of La Neuveville and the western Lake Biel. From there you have two options, both taking the same time, to descend back to La Neuveville. Here the descent via the Sentier des Blanchardes is described. After the pavilion, follow the signs "Neuveville / Faubourg". When you reach the road in the town, keep left onto Route du Château to quickly reach the known intersection where you previously turned towards Combe du Pilouvi. From now on, you return to the station the same way.

Tips: The hike can be extended by 1.5 hours if you make a detour to the Combe de Lignières and to Lignières after the Combe du Pilouvi.

Variation: Start in Lignières and then hike along the Ruisseau de Vaux and through the Combe du Pilouvi to La Neuveville (1 h 20 min). The hike can also be nicely finished with a boat trip to St. Peters Island.

Background: The town of La Neuveville, with less than 4000 inhabitants, has a well-preserved, almost square historic city layout, shaped by a city wall with seven towers. The two banner bearer fountains built in 1550 mark the two ends of today's market street, the core of the historic place.

Source: Hiking book "Hiking by the Water", Berner Wanderwege