Bremgarten to Rottenschwil along Lake Flachsee (Canton Aargau)

Wednesday, 12th of December -- It was a very cold day but there was a promise of sunshine, and we always want to take advantage of a sunny day!

In the flat land North of the Alps, where the Reuss River flows northward toward the Rhine River after leaving Lake Lucerne, there is a 5-km long "lake" which is actually a left-over of a lake created 10,000 years ago after the retreat of the Reuss Glacier. Through deposits of silt and gravel, the lake eventually reduced in size, leaving a shallow body of water called "Flachsee" (= Flat Lake), where over 240 types of birds have made their homes in the islands and gravel banks. The area is a nature reserve particularly popular with ornithologists. At this time of year, though, there are only a few of the regular water-birds still around: Cormorants, Herons, Egrets, Storks (love the storks), Swans and Coots.

The prettiest bird we saw, a Great Egret, was difficult to photograph as the sunshine illuminated its stark white plumage so brightly, I barely could capture any details. Reading up on this bird later, I found out that it almost went extinct in the 19th Century due to the use of its up to 50-cm long feathers in ladies' fashion at the time.

Along the 10-km section between Bremgarten and Rottenschwil we also crossed two old covered wooden bridges, visited the grounds of the Hermetschwil Monastery (founded in 1083 / current buildings dating from 1500's / disbanded in 1870 by the Protestant Canton Aargau / reinstated only recently in 1985 as an active women's monastery), and ended with a walk around a lovely marsh also known as "The Quiet Reuss" (Stille Reuss), because this used to be one of many curves created by the meandering Reuss River, an arc that was cut off back in the 1700's when the farmers decided to straighten the river at that point.

As we cross the bridge across the Reuss River entering Bremgarten by train

Some large Christmas decorations on this tree in Bremgarten!

We didn't stay long in the town as even at mid-day, all the streets were in shadow and it was very cold.

On the river we emerged into sunshine. First order of the day was to cross the wooden bridge, even though we walked South on this side

Another glimpse of Bremgarten from the bridge.

Back on the Eastern shore of the Reuss River we headed South, after another glance back at the old covered bridge.

The BD Train (Bremgarten-Dietikon) heading across the bridge back to Wohlen. There is a mailbox in the middle of the river. 

A close-up of the mailbox in the river. I wonder what kind of mail gets delivered there?

Heading South along the Eastern shore of the Reuss River, enjoying some winter sunshine

After crossing the Power Plant Dam South of Bremgarten, and continuing on the river's Western shore, we reached the Hermetschwil Monastery, and had a quick look around the grounds. 

As in many of these monasteries there is a shop where you can buy products handmade by the sisters, but the shop was closed from 12:00 to 14:00 (it was just past 1 pm.)

From the Monastery grounds we glimpsed the second wooden bridge we were going to cross, back to the Eastern shore. The lake Flachsee is in the background. 

Crossing the Dominiloch Bridge back to the Eastern shore of the Reuss River.

A glimpse back at the Hermetschwil Monastery

And the first glimpse of Lake Flachsee (Flat Lake), a haven for 240 different types of birds

In winter there are only a few types of birds here, the cormorants being one type

Cormorants on Lake Flachsee

Finally found a sunny bench for a coffee break!

Thrilled to see so many storks. We don't see them very often

Beavers hard at work. That tree on the left isn't going to remain standing too much longer!

Near Rottenschwil back on the West side of the Reuss River is a marsh called "Stille Reuss", originally a bend in the Reuss River but cut off when the river was straightened in the 1700's

This beautiful Great Egret was very difficult to photograph

A walk around the Marsh where originally the Reuss River used to flow.

Lovely marsh, almost nicer than the Lake.

10-km walk along the Reuss River from Bremgarten to Rottenschwil

10-km walk along the Reuss River from Bremgarten to Rottenschwil. Just the right distance for these short winter days, when the sun already seems to go down at 3 pm.