Rohr can be explored through two distinct highlights: the aquatic and floodplain landscape of the Rohrer Schachen, and the Reformed parish church with its distinctive architecture and art. This allows you to get to know the village through both nature observation and architectural and art history. Rohr is a village in the canton of Aargau and, since its merger with Aarau, has been a district of the cantonal capital.
Hike through aquatic landscapes
The “From the Gravel Bank to the Pond Landscape” hike is 6 km long, takes 1½ hours, and has no change in elevation. It starts at the “Aarau Rohr, Salamatt” stop and ends at “Aarau Rohr, Unterdorf”. These named endpoints, the distance, and the walking time provide a concrete basis for planning the tour.
Along the way, the hike passes a beaver dam on the Giessen. With a little luck, you may spot further signs of beavers along the Giessen. In the Rohrer Schachen, the route also passes a naturalistic pond landscape that can be viewed clearly from a vantage point. Animals are best observed at close range on the eastern edge of the area.
Giessen and Aarschächli
In the Rohrer Schachen, a new side channel and a softwood floodplain cover 7 ha. Where groundwater reaches the surface, Giessen streams form and are considered a hallmark of the area. They provide a habitat for aquatic plants such as water celery and watercress, as well as for sticklebacks, beavers, and kingfishers. These examples range from plants to fish, mammals, and birds: the Giessen shape the landscape while also providing a habitat for a variety of species.
Aarschächli consists of an oxbow lake fed by groundwater, with a shallow-water zone and a steep bank. As part of the floodplain restoration, an oxbow lake was created artificially; today, it is home to ducks and other aquatic life. There is also a viewpoint at Aarschächli overlooking the forest lake. Binoculars are recommended for birdwatching there.
Reformed Parish Church of Rohr
The Reformed Parish Church of Rohr has a Y-shaped floor plan, an unusual design for a building of this type. Its interior also features some specific details: the tapestry on the altar wall was made by Regula Eichenberger in 1965. The plain-glass windows on the south side were replaced in 1987 with stained-glass windows by Karl-Heinz Bürger. The floor plan, tapestry, and windows thus draw attention to different aspects of the church’s architecture and art.
The Reformed Church of Rohr is generally open during the day, roughly from 07:00 to 19:00, for quiet reflection or personal prayer. It is not open if a service or event is taking place. Before your visit, check whether this restriction applies at the time you plan to go.
Local history and elevation
Rohr was first mentioned in a document in 1027 under the name “Rore”. The place name derives from the Old High German expression “ze Rore” and means “by the reeds”. The historic elevation of the former municipality ranged from the banks of the Aare, where the lowest point was around 358 metres, to Suretwald, whose highest point is around 380 metres.
Discover more destinations: Aarau, Gränichen, Oberentfelden, Suhr, Küttigen, Muhen.
Go to the main travel overview: Aarau.
