Hiking in Switzerland – Gabrielle and Urs: December 2014

(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.