Around 1800, almost a third of the Langenthal population worked in the textile industry. The spectrum of companies expanded with industrialization. A whole range of traditional medium-sized Langethal companies is still famous beyond the region.

Following the development of the Inneren Allmend, the heart of the town was repeatedly threatened with flooding by the River Langeten and thus noticeably high pavements were built along Marktgasse and Bahnhofstrasse. These have since become Langenthal’s hallmark. However, ever higher floodwater forced the construction of a flood-relief tunnel into the River Aare in 1992.

One distinctive feature of the landscape around Langenthal is the irrigation meadows: it has only been possible to retain traces of this once widespread form of grass cultivation with its special watering techniques.

The acclaimed Kunsthaus (art gallery) Langenthal, housed in the «Choufhüsi», a listed building, focuses mainly on trends in Swiss contemporary art. It also often succeeds in presenting topics relevant to Langenthal. The Design Center Langenthal is another highly respected national cultural institution.

The Langenthal Museum in the historic Zoll- and Amthaus (former customs post and town hall) presents Langenthal history and geography as well as the textile industry in Langenthal and Oberaargau. The Chrämerhuus Culture Centre stages a contemporary culture programme ranging between experimental minority and popular entertainment cultures. The Trummlehus exhibits a collection of rhythm instruments from all over the world. The Langenthal animal park with children’s playground is a family favourite and has made deer its focal point since it opened.

For centuries, Langenthal was closely associated with the former St. Urban Cistercian Monastery, situated a little east of Langenthal on Lucerne territory. The monastery church built between 1711 and 1715 and renovated from 1987 to 1993 is an impressive example of baroque and Cistercian architecture. Its twin towers are visible from afar. The world-famous carved choir stalls were created between 1700 and 1707. With 40 registers, over 2500 pipes and three manuals, the organ ranks as the biggest, still largely preserved baroque organ in Switzerland.