Walk above the vineyards along Lake Biel, from La Neuveville to Ligerz

Wednesday October 1, 2025 --  For a change we traveled to the western part of Switzerland into the Jura mountains of Canton Bern, for a walk through the vineyards along Lake Biel. (We don't get out that way often). But with still recent snow at higher elevations, this is the time to do easy hikes at the lower pre-alpine regions.

We chose this region because we had recently done a very quick walkthrough of the little medieval (founded in 1312!) lakeside village of La Neuveville (on our way back home from the long day-trip we did with friends recently, photos HERE), and we had determined to return one day to this, one of the prettiest villages in Switzerland. Furthermore, we knew of a nice little ravine behind the town, with waterfalls and ultimately a look-out point, and wanted to hike up that ravine. The plan then was to walk (mainly through forests) northwards parallel to Lake Biel and the vineyards, with some nice views of the lake and the five-kilometer-long peninsula called St. Peters Insel (St.Peter's Island). 

The 10-km hike ended in the lakeside village of Ligerz after we visited the pilgrim church above the town, which I had actually seen once before on a hike with my niece in March 2023, when we came from the north via another gorge called the Twannbachschlucht.

Somewhat disappointing was that it was overcast when we got there, with low clouds on the mountains (common now in autumn), so we spent an hour in an eclectic Café in the village of La Neuveville while waiting for the sun....which then appeared to our great joy and ultimately provided us with great weather on this very lovely and leisurely hike. 

(More information about the town of La Neuveville at this website: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/la-neuveville/)

Having left home at about 7:30, we were nearing our destination of La Neuveville on Lake Biel (Bielersee) at 10 a.m., here passing the town of Ligerz where our hike would end later in the day. (Later we had a quick look at the church on the hill before descending into the town here to catch a bus, as the train no longer stops here). The overcast skies here were discouraging, and we realized we should have left home an hour later, to wait for the clouds to lift.

Arriving now in La Neuveville (a Medieval town founded in 1312), where we were to start on our hike up into the hillside parallel to the lake. This is one of three distinctive towers in this little town, which consists of a practically square design with three parallel roads, and one main perpendicular road. 

The square tower was built first with the intention of adding a Basilika, but the advent of the Reformation halted that plan. 

Part of our original plan had been to spend more time walking up and down the three parallel roads of the old town. La Neuveville (which also has the German name of Neuenstadt) was founded in 1312 and is considered one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland. 

These are some details of the houses along the little roads in the town of La Neuveville including the back side of the castle (upper right). We decided to look for a suitable Café to spend some time until the clouds would lift. 

Here are some details of the town fountains, one on each end of the main street. 

Next to the "Red Tower" gate on the west end of the village we found this cute café called "Mille Or", where we then spent the next 40 minutes waiting for the fog to lift. 

This was such a unique little establishment with the most interesting interior decor. There were lots of neat things to admire while we enjoyed a cup of coffee. 

My favourite feature of this café was this very unusual and interesting clock!

As we had hoped, the clouds cleared exactly an hour after we arrived here. So we left the café and did one more walk down the main road before heading through the Red Tower on the west end of the village on our walk to the Pilouvi gorge. 

A look down the main street toward the southern gate. 

From the south end of town, a look up the main street toward the "Red Tower". 

Heading toward the north gate in the Red Tower. 

We headed out on our hike at 11 a.m. toward the "Combe de Pilouvi", i.e. the Pilouvi Ravine. 

The walk into the Pilouvi Ravine is a popular loop tour via the Pavilion and back into the town of La Neuveville. We preferred to walk parallel to the lake to end in the next village of Ligerz. In all it was a 10-km walk, which took over three hours. 

Above the village we could see the tower of the "Château du Schlossberg". Our trail later passed along the road below the castle, but we did not make a detour there. 

What good luck that the day turned pleasant. Here we head through the vineyards toward the Pilouvi Gorge. 

A long series of steps up the ravine made it an easy walk, past several very pretty waterfalls! The watercourse is called "Ruisseau de Vaux". 

Bridges and waterfalls. 

The waterfalls created some very nice pools as well. 

VIDEO:

Waterfall above the bridge

At one point along the ravine we got a view westward to the end of Lake Biel. 

The trail reaches the road below a castle called "Château de Schlossberg" (which we did not have a look at, unfortunately, in retrospect). The actual Pilouvi Ravine starts here, and there is a description of the wooded reserve, consisting of four different types of forest. It is considered the Riviera of the Jura because of a Mediterranean-Style influence and rare vegetation.  

We came upon some more very nice waterfalls, and spent a bit of time admiring this.

You can barely see me at the foot of the waterfall because of my camouflage-coloured clothes!

VIDEO:

Waterfall in the Pilouvi Gorge

The ravine trail consisted of many stairways, rocky wet sections, but also some nice soft forest trails. 

Some nice wooden steps

By 12:30 we had reached the Pavilion look-out point. It was a good place for our picnic lunch. 

View from the Pavilion down to the town of La Neuveville below, and across Lake Biel to the south. Unfortunately, the air is still slightly hazy and the view isn't as good as we had hoped. At the south end of the thin strip of land in the lake is another very nice medieval town called Erlach, which we visited in March of 2014 (photos HERE). 

A close-up look at the town of La Neuveville from the Pavilion look-out point. We can make out the south tower near the train station and the large square north tower which was supposed to become part of a planned basilica. 

Next to the Pavilion was a large placard with a drawing of how the village might have looked back in 1520, with an extensive city wall and at least seven towers. 

The view directly to the east over the outskirts of the city is much clearer. In the background is a long stretch of land ending in a peninsula in the center of the lake. This is called St.Peter's Island, and you can walk there from the town of Erlach on the south end, a stretch of five kilometers. 

We now continue northwards above the vineyards parallel to Lake Biel. Here we look across at the St.Peter's Island, which is at the end of the long narrow piece of land stretching from Erlach. Trains passed just about every 10 minutes, cargo and passenger trains. 

Mostly our walk was through forested sections, but several times we had views as this one over the vineyards, railway line, lake and St.Peter's Island, as well all kinds of buildings within the vineyards.

I almost stepped on this slow-worm (which is actually a legless lizard) on the trail, as I hadn't seen it. Urs noticed it as we walked past. Usually when we spot such a reptile, it has already been stepped on or run over, probably because it is "slow".  It was very lucky thi time, and headed "as quickly as possible" back into the underbrush!

Now we join a road above the vineyards. Down below are several wineries. 

A close-up look at the roofs of the wineries below. The one with the cute pointed tower is called "Weingut Schlössli", or the "Little Castle Winery". 

View to the south end of Lake Biel. We cannot see the tow of La Neuveville from here. 

Up ahead now we can see the pilgrim church of Ligerz, one of the most distinctive churches in the Bern region and the most famous in the Lakes Region (Lake Biel, Lake Murten, Lake Neuchatel). We also caught sight of the little Ligerz Funicular heading up to the community of Prêles higher on the mountain. 

Sitting on the wall above the village of Ligerz with a view of the lake and the pilgrim church, hoping we would see the funicular descending again. But it wouldn't come for a while so we continued down to the Pilgrim Trail which passes through the vineyards below. 

VIDEO:

Panorama over Lake Biel, as a cargo train passes below.

This trail through the vineyards above the village of Ligerz is called the Pilgrim Trail, and it passes via the Ligerz Church and continues on to the town of Twann further along the lake. (I walked that section of the Pilgrim's Trail with my niece in March 2023 after we walked the Twannbach Gorge. 

Before getting to the church, we have to cross the funicular line. As it was now time for the funicular to descend back down to Ligerz, we waited here to watch it come down. 

At 14:40 the Ligerz Funicular passes the little station called "Pilgerweg" where we waited to watch it pass! (We have never been in this funicular, and will have to plan a ride some time in the future!)

A close-up look at the former railway station in Ligerz. The train no longer stops here. The name "Ligerz" is the German name for this town, and it also has a French name: "Gléresse". 

Before reaching the little church, we watched again as the railway workers collected the new cable-wheels for replacement on the railway line. 

Entrance to the Ligerz Church. The first documented mention of a church here is from 1291, and some parts of the original church are still present. This building is in the Late Gothic style from 1522/1526. The tower is older. 

Originally built in Late Gothic style, the church received Baroque renovations in 1666 and 1669. 

Details of the interior of the Ligerz Church. 

From the site of the church, we observe the boat approaching the town's dock. (The boat travels on all three lakes of the Lake Region, a trip we would also like to take one day). 

By about 3 p.m. we reached the village of Ligerz and walked along the main pedestrian alleyway, passing several wineries and some very old historical buildings. (Some as old as the late 14th Century). 

A pretty fountain in the main square of old town Ligerz. 

Lots of interesting details on this single stretch of houses along the main road and the lake. 

From the main vehicle road, we see the tower of the pilgrim church above the front facades of the buildings. 

We then crossed to the other side of the railway line along the lakefront trail so we could get a better look at the buildings. 

This is the cutest train station.... unfortunately the train no longer stops here. (At the moment, there is construction of a new tunnel through the mountain behind the village; when the tunnel from Twann to just south of Ligerz is complete, the train won't pass here any more at all). 

For now, there is a train of some sort (including many cargo trains) passing by this lakeside village at least every 10 minutes!

It was very windy on the lake this day, and we watched these people for a while, trying to prevent their little sailboat from being blown directly onto the water!

These pretty flower are called anemones. 

We've now reached the south end of the town, next to the town castle. Of particular interest here is that the part of the town to the north of this fountain belongs to the district of Ligerz, and the castle right to the south belongs to La Neuveville. 

Translated from the website http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/ligerz_d.html: "For approximately 250 years, "Le Fornel" was considered a typical residence of the nobility and represented the power of an influential family: the Lords of Gléresse. This residence was built in 1550 by Rudolph de Gléresse on land belonging to the Prince-Bishops of Basel. Since 1970, the building has been the property of the "Museum of the Vine of Lake Biel" Foundation."

After a nice leisurely stroll through Ligerz, we wait for the 15:46 bus to Twann, from where we catch the train to Biel. Across from the bus stop is the valley station of the funicular, which has the cutest name: "Vinifuni" (a celebration, no doubt, of this region of vineyards and wineries!)

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in La Neuveville and ending in Ligerz. 

These are all the hikes we have done around Lake Biel. 

Another ship on lake Biel

A hillside of vineyards above the village of Twann. (We have been here several times). 

View of the south part of the town of Twann from the railway station. As it turns out, it was a good time to head home, as it was now 4 p.m. and the sky again became overcast.  

Location of Lake Biel within Switzerland. 

Side Note: Here is an aerial photo of the "Château du Schlossberg", from the website: http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/neuveville_d.html. 

Additional information from that website: 

"In the Bernese Jura, the southern part of the former Prince-Bishopric of Basel, very few remains of medieval castles have survived. The ruins of Erguel near St-Imier are one of the most important, but above all, in the upper Lake Biel area, the castle on the Schlossberg above la Neuveville (Neuenstadt). While it no longer resembles the proud fortress, topped by pointed towers, seen in 18th-century views, it has become habitable again after falling into a state of disrepair in the 19th century, thanks to two restorations."  

(It is also apparently rented out as a private residence so I am not sure if we could have accessed the castle grounds). 

Side note: Here is an aerial photo of the "Château du Schlossberg", from the website: http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/neuveville_d.html.