Art lovers appreciate Aarau not only for its gabled houses but also for its outstanding collection of Swiss painters. The local art museum was built in 1953 and extended by architects Herzog & de Meuron in 2003. It is considered to be one of Switzerland’s most prestigious museums. The Jura seems to lose height continuously. The bike path leads mostly along the Aare River and is often unpaved – it’s just fun to be out and about in this magnificent countryside on two wheels. Small sandbanks invite you to linger for a while, and tiny frogs skip away as soon as one of the gigantic wheels starts to appear.

The area around Aarau doesn’t lack in castles and fortresses either. Among them is Biberstein Castle. Built in the 13th century by the Habsburgs, it serves as a home for adults with special needs today. Or take Wildegg Castle, which towers about 80 metres above the village of Wildegg. It primarily consists of a well-preserved castle (12th century), which was converted into a Baroque-style residence in the 17th century. Bad Schinznach is known for its thermal baths with Switzerland’s most powerful sulphur spring. In case the weather isn’t cooperating during your journey, it’s well worth a visit. Otherwise, enjoy the Badschache wetland conservation park, where the Wildegg-Brugg low-pressure hydroelectric station performs its job.

Just below Brugg, the Reuss and Limmat rivers meet to become the Aare. The area is called Switzerland’s “water tower,” due to the confluence of the Mittelland’s main rivers. At Böttstein, it’s worth having a look at the inner courtyard of the eponymous castle, which lies on the route. The Klingnauer Stausee conservation area needs no introduction, at least among hobby ornithologists. They’re lined up by the dozen with their large lenses. The man-made lake will surprise you with its remarkable diversity of birds and plants surrounded by spectacular scenery. You may regret that the tour is already coming to an end at Koblenz, where the Aare and Rhine rivers join together.