5 Mittelland Route
5 Mittelland Route
5 Mittelland Route
5 Mittelland Route
5 Mittelland Route
5 Mittelland Route

Cycling in Switzerland

etappe-01052

Mittelland Route

Stage 6, Ins–Yverdon

Route report
45 photos

VL_005_06_P1030906_R_F_M.jpg
etappe-01052

Mittelland Route

Lac de Neuchâtel: chirping in the reeds, waves lapping at the gentle shore, the Jura shimmering in the distance. Over 100 species of birds breed in the Grande Cariçaie, the 40-km-long marsh and reed belt along the southern shores of the lake.
The Lakes Region is considered to be Switzerland’s vegetable gardens. It wasn’t always so: On 25 July 1867 the Federal Assembly approved 5 million francs for a first correction of the Jura waters. What used to be a marsh where many people contracted malaria was to improve considerably by means of a sophisticated concept. For one thing, the Aare was rerouted to flow from Aarberg into Lake Biel, which resulted in the new Hagneck channel. Lake Biel, Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten were lowered by 2.5 m. This is also the time when the famous Swiss painter Albert Anker (1831–1910) created some of his works. His studio in the Grand Marsh town of Ins was preserved almost in its original condition and is available for guided tours.

No guided tour is required to leisurely pedal through the vegetable paradise and to admire and cross the Rotary Bridge. The 250 m wooden arch symbolizes the gulf between German- and French-speaking Switzerland and once was one of the centrepieces of the EXPO 02 national exposition. The connecting bridge between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten is closed to motorised traffic, but not to pedestrians, bikers and inline skaters. If you need a break, head for Cudrefin. There is a lawn for sunbathing on the lake. Restaurants are also available, small but serving scrumptious food. If you prefer to rest in the sand, continue and pick one of the sand beaches in Yvonand. With a little imagination, it feels like the Mediterranean here.

Back on the bike, you will catch sight now and then of the snow-capped Alps in the distance, but mostly you will appreciate the lovely area on charming Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. Listen to the birds chirping in the country’s longest reed area. The “Grande Cariçaie” nature preserve is 40 km long. The bike route from Yvonand to Yverdon continues along the main road and offers various access opportunities and vistas of this “jungle”; at the Cheseaux islands observation tower, for example, or the “Centre de Champ Pittet”. It’s worth climbing the wooden steps to enjoy the view from the tower – an exciting look at the life of kingfishers, frogs, garden warblers, white herons and the riverside forests. Shortly before Yverdon, directly on the bike route, be sure you stop at the Menhires at Clendy site. These pre-historic standing stones, erected more than 5000 years ago, will remind you a little of the “hanging stones” of Stonehenge.
Lac de Neuchâtel: chirping in the reeds, waves lapping at the gentle shore, the Jura shimmering in the distance. Over 100 species of birds breed in the Grande Cariçaie, the 40-km-long marsh and reed belt along the southern shores of the lake.
The Lakes Region is considered to be Switzerland’s vegetable gardens. It wasn’t always so: On 25 July 1867 the Federal Assembly approved 5 million francs for a first correction of the Jura waters. What used to be a marsh where many people contracted malaria was to improve considerably by means of a sophisticated concept. For one thing, the Aare was rerouted to flow from Aarberg into Lake Biel, which resulted in the new Hagneck channel. Lake Biel, Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten were lowered by 2.5 m. This is also the time when the famous Swiss painter Albert Anker (1831–1910) created some of his works. His studio in the Grand Marsh town of Ins was preserved almost in its original condition and is available for guided tours.

No guided tour is required to leisurely pedal through the vegetable paradise and to admire and cross the Rotary Bridge. The 250 m wooden arch symbolizes the gulf between German- and French-speaking Switzerland and once was one of the centrepieces of the EXPO 02 national exposition. The connecting bridge between Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten is closed to motorised traffic, but not to pedestrians, bikers and inline skaters. If you need a break, head for Cudrefin. There is a lawn for sunbathing on the lake. Restaurants are also available, small but serving scrumptious food. If you prefer to rest in the sand, continue and pick one of the sand beaches in Yvonand. With a little imagination, it feels like the Mediterranean here.

Back on the bike, you will catch sight now and then of the snow-capped Alps in the distance, but mostly you will appreciate the lovely area on charming Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. Listen to the birds chirping in the country’s longest reed area. The “Grande Cariçaie” nature preserve is 40 km long. The bike route from Yvonand to Yverdon continues along the main road and offers various access opportunities and vistas of this “jungle”; at the Cheseaux islands observation tower, for example, or the “Centre de Champ Pittet”. It’s worth climbing the wooden steps to enjoy the view from the tower – an exciting look at the life of kingfishers, frogs, garden warblers, white herons and the riverside forests. Shortly before Yverdon, directly on the bike route, be sure you stop at the Menhires at Clendy site. These pre-historic standing stones, erected more than 5000 years ago, will remind you a little of the “hanging stones” of Stonehenge.
51 km
Asphalted: 45 km
Natural surface: 6 km
320 m | 320 m
medium

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Ins
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
More

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Yverdon-les-Bains
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Services

Accommodation

B&B im Tipi
B&B im Tipi
Ins
BeachIN
BeachIN
Ins
Romantik Hôtel de l’Ours
Romantik Hôtel de l’Ours
Sugiez
Hôtel de la Gare
Hôtel de la Gare
Sugiez
Hôtel Restaurant Cave Bel-Air
Hôtel Restaurant Cave Bel-Air
Praz (Vully)
Camping de Cudrefin
Camping de Cudrefin
Cudrefin
TCS Camping Salavaux Plage
TCS Camping Salavaux Plage
Salavaux
Château Salavaux
Château Salavaux
Salavaux
Seaside Lodge
Seaside Lodge
Portalban
Camping de Chevroux
Camping de Chevroux
Chevroux
La Ferme de la Corbière
La Ferme de la Corbière
Estavayer-le-Lac
Logement de groupes Alphasurf SA
Logement de groupes Alphasurf SA
Estavayer-le-Lac
Hôtel Restaurant du Port
Hôtel Restaurant du Port
Estavayer-le-Lac
BnB Chandoiseau
BnB Chandoiseau
Yvonand
Y-Hostel
Y-Hostel
Yverdon-les-Bains
Hôtel du Théâtre
Hôtel du Théâtre
Yverdon-les-Bains
BnB de la Colline
BnB de la Colline
Chamblon
Show all

Bookable offers

5 Mittelland-Route For Families
5 Mittelland-Route For Families
5 Mittelland Route Romanshorn - Lausanne
5 Mittelland Route Romanshorn - Lausanne
34 Alter Bernerweg
34 Alter Bernerweg
50 Jurasüdfuss-Route
50 Jurasüdfuss-Route
Show all

Places

Ins
Ins
Portalban
Portalban
Estavayer-le-Lac
Estavayer-le-Lac
Yvonand
Yvonand
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains
Show all

Places of interest

Albert Anker House
Albert Anker House
Mount Vully - Home of good food and wine
Mount Vully - Home of good food and wine
Mount Vully
Mount Vully
The nature reserve centre La Sauge
The nature reserve centre La Sauge
Stone Age lakeside village, Gletterens
Stone Age lakeside village, Gletterens
Roman Museum Vallon
Roman Museum Vallon
Grande Cariçaie
Grande Cariçaie
Tour Saint-Martin
Tour Saint-Martin
Pro Natura Centre Champ-Pittet
Pro Natura Centre Champ-Pittet
Château de Grandson
Château de Grandson
Show all