Hiking
ViaSurprise
Stage 4, Beinwil–Zwingen
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ViaSurprise
Stage 4, Beinwil–Zwingen
The ViaSurprise leads through the Chaltbrunnental valley, over small bridges and walkways, past caves and traces of prehistoric landscapes. Running alongside the Birs river, the trail makes its way to Zwingen and its secluded moated castle.
Beinwil consists of four hamlets with remote farms and the Benedictine monastery, which was built in 1085. Here is where the hiking trail starts. After its heyday in the 12th century, the monastery slowly began to decline just 100 years later due to disputes regarding territorial claims from the cities of Solothurn and Basel. In 1874 the monastery was closed by referendum. It has been under the control of an ecumenical community since 1983. Through short forested areas, across pastures and through the Hexengraben the trail leads past two hill farms named Grosser and Kleiner Kasten. The highest point of the walk is reached at Chastenchöpfli (900 m). It takes approximately one hour to get there. The views on the way past Bärenbüel are fantastic. Going downhill across the Riedengraben takes you to historic Meltingen, a place of pilgrimage, just a short while later. It is located in a cauldron at the upper end of Kaltbrunnen Valley surrounded by mountains and hills.
The path now drops down into a ravine and follows the Ibach River. The next section is a forest protection area. Deadwood is left untouched here, which is beneficial to many endangered species. For example, it creates a habitat for various insects and larvae and these, in turn, provide food for the birds. The gently burbling brook meanders through the untouched landscape. Bellflowers and other plants are growing on the side of the path. Many of the trees in this ravine are covered with moss, which gives them a mysterious look. In the spring the smell of wild garlic is everywhere and the many beautiful spots where you can rest your feet will make you want to linger.
After another hour, still in the ravine of the Chaltbrunnen Valley, you reach a karst area. An educational trail provides some information about the Ibachhöhle cave, the headwaters and archaeological finds of pre-historic hunters and gatherers. They lived here approximately 50,000 years ago, at the time of the Neanderthals, and sought shelter in the caves. After about four hours, you leave the valley. On forest and paved roads, above the Birs River and along the train tracks, it takes a good hour to get to the destination in Zwingen. The village is located in the Laufental Valley where Lüssel and Birs meet.
The path now drops down into a ravine and follows the Ibach River. The next section is a forest protection area. Deadwood is left untouched here, which is beneficial to many endangered species. For example, it creates a habitat for various insects and larvae and these, in turn, provide food for the birds. The gently burbling brook meanders through the untouched landscape. Bellflowers and other plants are growing on the side of the path. Many of the trees in this ravine are covered with moss, which gives them a mysterious look. In the spring the smell of wild garlic is everywhere and the many beautiful spots where you can rest your feet will make you want to linger.
After another hour, still in the ravine of the Chaltbrunnen Valley, you reach a karst area. An educational trail provides some information about the Ibachhöhle cave, the headwaters and archaeological finds of pre-historic hunters and gatherers. They lived here approximately 50,000 years ago, at the time of the Neanderthals, and sought shelter in the caves. After about four hours, you leave the valley. On forest and paved roads, above the Birs River and along the train tracks, it takes a good hour to get to the destination in Zwingen. The village is located in the Laufental Valley where Lüssel and Birs meet.
The ViaSurprise leads through the Chaltbrunnental valley, over small bridges and walkways, past caves and traces of prehistoric landscapes. Running alongside the Birs river, the trail makes its way to Zwingen and its secluded moated castle.
Beinwil consists of four hamlets with remote farms and the Benedictine monastery, which was built in 1085. Here is where the hiking trail starts. After its heyday in the 12th century, the monastery slowly began to decline just 100 years later due to disputes regarding territorial claims from the cities of Solothurn and Basel. In 1874 the monastery was closed by referendum. It has been under the control of an ecumenical community since 1983. Through short forested areas, across pastures and through the Hexengraben the trail leads past two hill farms named Grosser and Kleiner Kasten. The highest point of the walk is reached at Chastenchöpfli (900 m). It takes approximately one hour to get there. The views on the way past Bärenbüel are fantastic. Going downhill across the Riedengraben takes you to historic Meltingen, a place of pilgrimage, just a short while later. It is located in a cauldron at the upper end of Kaltbrunnen Valley surrounded by mountains and hills.
The path now drops down into a ravine and follows the Ibach River. The next section is a forest protection area. Deadwood is left untouched here, which is beneficial to many endangered species. For example, it creates a habitat for various insects and larvae and these, in turn, provide food for the birds. The gently burbling brook meanders through the untouched landscape. Bellflowers and other plants are growing on the side of the path. Many of the trees in this ravine are covered with moss, which gives them a mysterious look. In the spring the smell of wild garlic is everywhere and the many beautiful spots where you can rest your feet will make you want to linger.
After another hour, still in the ravine of the Chaltbrunnen Valley, you reach a karst area. An educational trail provides some information about the Ibachhöhle cave, the headwaters and archaeological finds of pre-historic hunters and gatherers. They lived here approximately 50,000 years ago, at the time of the Neanderthals, and sought shelter in the caves. After about four hours, you leave the valley. On forest and paved roads, above the Birs River and along the train tracks, it takes a good hour to get to the destination in Zwingen. The village is located in the Laufental Valley where Lüssel and Birs meet.
The path now drops down into a ravine and follows the Ibach River. The next section is a forest protection area. Deadwood is left untouched here, which is beneficial to many endangered species. For example, it creates a habitat for various insects and larvae and these, in turn, provide food for the birds. The gently burbling brook meanders through the untouched landscape. Bellflowers and other plants are growing on the side of the path. Many of the trees in this ravine are covered with moss, which gives them a mysterious look. In the spring the smell of wild garlic is everywhere and the many beautiful spots where you can rest your feet will make you want to linger.
After another hour, still in the ravine of the Chaltbrunnen Valley, you reach a karst area. An educational trail provides some information about the Ibachhöhle cave, the headwaters and archaeological finds of pre-historic hunters and gatherers. They lived here approximately 50,000 years ago, at the time of the Neanderthals, and sought shelter in the caves. After about four hours, you leave the valley. On forest and paved roads, above the Birs River and along the train tracks, it takes a good hour to get to the destination in Zwingen. The village is located in the Laufental Valley where Lüssel and Birs meet.
Length
16 km
Ascent | Descent
520 m | 760 m
Hiking time
4 h 40 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton.
Solothurner Wanderwege
4503 Solothurn
info@solothurner-wanderwege.ch
www.solothurner-wanderwege.ch
