12-km Walk from Melchnau to Huttwil in Oberaargau in Canton Bern

(This post done on December 23, 2024, exactly 10 years to the day after this hike!)

Tuesday December 23, 2014 -- Hard to believe it is Christmas soon, with no snow here and fallish type weather! It WAS cold this morning with frosty patches in the shade, but gorgeous blue skies and clear air...

Our 12-km walk today was in the area NW of Lucerne in Canton Bern (but very near the Canton Luzern border), featuring rolling hills and green fields and Emmental-style houses. We ate lunch at the old ruined walls of a 1450's fortress called Grünenberg and walked through fields and forests and had great views of the alps. We started at about 1 p.m. from the ruins, and arrived above the town of Huttwil at 4:30 p.m., still with sunshine and lovely late afternoon vibes. A rather enjoyable walk this day!

On our way to the starting point of our hike in Melchnau, we had to change trains in Olten. It was beautiful weather for this great photo of the Aar River and the old wooden bridge. (From here it was another 30-minute ride to Melchnau)

We started our hike at 12:33, at the final stop of the bus run in Melchnau Oberdorf, at the foot of a small hill which had a fortress ruin at the top. The first thing we had a look at was the very interesting group of church buildings, including this ancient barn, which was where the parish priest stored what he grew on his appointed land. It now serves as the parish hall. 

Information placards describe the history of the town and the parish. It explains that this was the center of medieval nobility in the Upper Aargau from the 10th to the 15th Centuries. Before the Reformation, there were several churches in the area. The one here at the foot of the "Castle Hill" was built in 1709. The neighbouring rectory was built about 40 years later. And the adjoining old barn is now the parish hall.  

Our first goal after a short uphill walk are the fortress ruins of Grünenberg. From here it's an easy 2½-hour walk to Huttwil, our ultimate goal of the day.  

This is what the fortress might have looked like in about the year 1450.

But this is all that remains of a once mighty fortress! (Historically, after the fall of a noble family, stones from the castles were usually carried away to build houses for the common folk). 

Enjoying our picnic lunch and sunshine up at the Grünenberg Fortress ruins. 

Heading off now on the rest of our hike at just after 1 p.m, and before reaching Trail no.65 "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland" ("Border Trail around Mt.Napf") which we will follow until Huttwil, we pass this really neat house built right into the mountain on the little hill called "Schlossberg". 

Heading south now on the "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland", we can see across the little village of Melchnau toward the west and all the way to the Jura range! On the right is the little hill (Schlossberg) where the ruins of the Grünenberg Fortress are. 

Along the way, there were a few sections of trail where the sun did not reach, and where the frost probably remains all day!

For the rest of the hike we had the most magnificent views of the Bernese Alps to the south, clear air, blue skies, mild temperatures, really nice walking trails in a green landscape. So great to be able to enjoy this so late in December!

Vast green agricultural lands and view of a large section of the Alps to the south! The sunshine is so pleasant.

Very much enjoying this wonderful hike so late in the year. 

Walking along Trail no.65: "Grenzpfad Napfbergerland"

This region is called the Oberaargau, just north of the border with Canton Berne's Emmental region, but many of the houses here have that same building style. 

More lovely old farm houses to admire along the way. 

I just HAD to sit on that cutest of little benches!

After passing through a town called Gondiswil, we walked through a nature reserve called "Gondiswilerweiher", or "Gondiswil pond". 

This is the old mill in Gondiswil.

More beautiful farm houses

Often we find sculptures of bears in the forests, so we have to take a photo:  "Urs = Bear!"

Just above the town of Huttwil is a monument to soldiers, along with the flag of Canton Bern. We also get a nice view of the Pilatus Massif from here. 

And a look down at the town of Huttwil, now in late afternoon shadow, as it is now 4:30 p.m. 

What this hike from Melchnau to Huttwil looks like on Google Satellite Maps 

Location of Melchnau/Huttwil within Switzerland. 

Crest Hike from Alpe Foppa to Monte Lema via Monte Tamaro

(This blog item published July 5, 2023, therefore the times are no longer sure)

October 24, 2014 – After a good night’s sleep in Linescio near Bosco Gurin, and a breakfast of homemade bread at Pablo’s B&B, we got back on the bus as the sun was rising above the hills, and traveled another 2¾ hours to our starting point for today’s hike: Alpe Foppa on Monte Tamaro. At 1956m, Monte Tamaro is not a high mountain, but it’s the highest in this area, and affords a 360-degree view across the entire Alps and south into Italy, especially on a gorgeous clear day like the one we had.

The 15-km hike from Alpe Foppa (reached by cable car) to Monte Lema – with a detour over the peak of Monte Tamaro – takes minimum 5 hours, which made it a tough hike because we only had about 6 hours till the last cable car down the mountain (we really should have started 2 hours earlier). So not a lot of rest stops. Worst part is at the end, when the goal looks so close, you realize you first have to walk way down and way up again…

(Photos of the hike we did the day before in the Bosco Gurin Valley are HERE).

As we ascend from Rivera with the cable-way to Alpe Foppa, we get a good look at one of Mario Botta's (world-renowned Swiss architect) famous buildings: "Santa Maria degli Angeli", built from 1992 to 1996 and made of concrete and porphyry. 

Before starting on our hike, a quick walk to the look-out platform on the church building, and a look up to the peak called La Manèra, which we first have to scale before heading on to Monte Tamaro, the peak on the right. 

We started at about 11:30 a.m. (?), and the walk across the crest to Monte Lema is about five hours. The last cable-car of the day from there back off the mountain was at about 5:30 p.m.

Heading up the wide (and boring) winding road to the tower and Capanna Tamaro. There was a lot of shade from the mountain on this west side, unfortunately. 

Ah, but the view down to Alpe Foppa and the Magadino Plain below, as we climb higher and higher, is worth the trouble. In the back are the mountains of Canton Graubünden. 

And the view to the West..... The view is all the way to the Monte Rosa Massif in the Alps of Canton Valais, the snow-covered peaks on the left. 

It took almost 90 minutes to get here, just before the final steep climb to the summit of Monte Tamaro, which is the peak in the back. 

Fantastic panorama view toward Locarno to the North, and the Swiss Alps, as we ascend to the summit of Monte Tamaro.

A steep 30-minute climb, and we reach the summit of Monte Tamaro at about 1:30 p.m. According to the sign, we still have another 3+ hours to Monte Lema!

Spectacular views to the west from the summit of Monte Tamaro, past the summit of Monte Gambarogno, and all the way to the Monte Rosa Massif, where the highest peak in Switzerland is located. (All those snow-covered peaks in the back are over 4000 meters)

And this view is to the south-east to the Capriasca Region near Lugano

Enjoying a late lunch break on the summit of Monte Tamaro, looking north-east toward Bellinzona. 

Below is Lago Maggiore, the Maggia Delta, and the city of Locarno with all its "suburbs". You can just make out the Verzasca Dam on the right. 

A clearer view of the lake and the Verzasca Dam

Panorama view of the Magadino Plain and Alpe Foppa on the left, all the way to more Italian Alps in the east. 

This view to the Southwest includes mainly Italy, and the Italian part of the lake called Lago Maggiore.

Heading down off Monte Tamaro. It's a very warm day for the end of October!

As we continue south along the crest of the range between Monte Tamaro and Monte Lema, we get more and more of a view into the lower hills to the West, which are mostly in Italy... with the exception of the village most to the right. This is Indemini, the final village on the Swiss side of the border. 

A zoomed view of the village of Indemini, which is the final village on the Swiss side. The other villages upper right and upper left are in Italy. 

Another look behind us at Monte Tamaro as we continue southward. 

Passing a herd of goats along the way. 

Finally reaching Monte Lema, or so I thought. The cable car station looks so close, but there is still a valley in between!

And here we are arriving at our destination at about 5 p.m. The final descent was to be at 5:30, and there were so many people so we got in line quickly. We thought they might operate the three-car cableway continuously, but this was not the case. I'm not even sure if all the people made it onto this final run. We did, so we were happy about that. 

The elevations we walked on the 15-km stretch between Alpe Foppa and Monte Lema. 

What the hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps