Twannbach Gorge and the Vineyards along Lake Biel

Thursday March 30, 2023 -- My niece is visiting and we purchased a day ticket for the public transit to travel anywhere in Switzerland. The problem was, the weather was poor in all parts of the country this day, even in the Tessin which is our go-to place when the weather is bad here in the North!

The best we could do was the western part of Switzerland, which had a forecast of some sunshine after 3 p.m., but before that cloudy with rain....We really wanted to do some walking, so we chose to do a walk through the Twannbach Gorge where it wouldn't matter if we didn't have a lot of sunshine, and to simply start late in the day.

We combined this plan with a visit to the exotic Papiliorama in Kerzers near Biel, a lovely establishment showcasing the life of butterflies and various exotic jungle animals such as birds, bats, small primates and lots of bugs. We spent two hours inspecting the three sections of the facilities, but were too warmly dressed to stay long. (Those photos HERE).

We then arrived in Twann on Lake Biel for the start of our hike at 2 p.m. but had to loiter over coffee for an hour waiting for the rain to stop, which happened exactly as foretold at 3 p.m.! We did a 7.5-km round tour through the gorge and the vineyards west of Lake Biel, and returned to the train station in Twann at 6 p.m. It was a successful day even with the poor weather... 

Interesting note: This region of Switzerland is half French-speaking and half German-speaking, so many of the towns have both German and French names. The French name for Twann is Douanne.

The "Rebhaus" (Vine House) near the train station in Twann is a symbol to the wine production in this area. 

Spending an hour in a café/bakery/Tea Room waiting for the rain to stop. 

At exactly 3 p.m., as foretold by the weather report, the sun came out. So we walked from the bakery eastward through the "Main Street" of Twann

Details of the main street in Twann, including one of several painted murals depicting the wine production here

Main street Twann (with another mural on the left). 

At the east end of the village is the evangelical village church built in 1482

A cool photo in a mirror

At the front entrance of the church hangs the old "Bell Brace" and Clapper from 1731, dismantled in 1963 when the ringing of the bell was automated

A look over the rooftops of Twann as we head up into the vineyards. 

The hike from Twann into the Twannbach Gorge and back out, then through the vineyards, was about 7.5 kilometers

Making our way through the vineyards above the village of Twann toward the gorge

Just two minutes from the "Twannbachschlucht"

There is a fee for walking in the gorge (2 CHF for adults and 1 CHF for children). The funds are for the upkeep of the gorge trail. 

A sign next to the path informs us that this is a bat cave, and that seven species of bats (some quite rare) live here. It is not permitted to go into the cave. All species of bats are protected in Switzerland. 

There was lots of water in the Twann River as it flowed down the gorge!

Interesting caves under the cliffs

I have to be in a photo once in a while as well...

Trail markers in the gorge inform that hiking this gorge is subject to a fee (gebührenpflichtig). The sign also informs that this is a nature reserve. 

Always a good time with my niece!

Different impressions of the Twannbach Gorge

A particularly interesting section of the trail

It was the ideal choice for a hike for this day. Also, we were totally alone in the gorge, another plus for me!

VIDEO:

We chose to hike uphill into the gorge instead of downhill, which was a good choice because the trail was slippery.

               

Another sign at the top entrance of the gorge informs us that there is a fee to walk this path. 

From the top of the gorge we returned via a forest road back to the lake side, where we were pleased to be able to see over Lake Biel. We walked through the vineyards to the 16th-Century pilgrim's church above Ligerz, and then followed the Pilgrim's Trail back to the train station in Twann.

The first set of houses we encountered as we came back out of the forest, at the top of the vineyards. The community has a name: Schernelz (German) / Cerniaux (French)

Another nod to the fact that this is wine country!

Now that the clouds are lifting, we get a nice view across Lake Biel! That land mass is not a real island because it is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. But it is called "St.Petersinsel", or "Saint Peter's Island".

The small pilgrim's church in the middle of the vineyards above Ligerz. It is here were we doubled back to head back to Twann. 

The pilgrim's church was built in Late-Gothic style in 1522/26, but "renovated" in Baroque style in 1666/69! The tower is apparently older than the church part. 

I guess it's important to know that that's a hotel, from above. 

A look back at the pilgrim's church as we head back down to Twann

The trail that we followed parallell to the lake is called the "Pilgrim's Trail". We ended up with some nice sunshine at the end of the hike. 

Looking down at the train tracks and lakeside properties

A view of the village of Twann ahead of us, and the vineyards above it. 

We can even just make out the Bernese Alps (Gantrisch)

Last section down through the village of Twann and back to the train station. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps

Location of Lake Biel in Switzerland (near Neuchatel)

Additional note: In July 2016 we walked through this gorge the first time, the typical recommended hike starting with the Funicular from Biel to Magglingen, and walking along the top of the hill from where we descended the gorge to Twann. Those photos are HERE.