Ehrendingen lies on a rise between the Limmat and Surb valleys, on the northwestern slope of the Lägern. Three signposted Ehrendingen trails lead to well-known and lesser-known places in the village. There are also historic buildings, a virtual village museum and insights into the geology of the Lägern. The area can be explored through a range of themes, from landscape and local history to agriculture and seasonal produce.

Landscape, Local Trails and Geology

The information boards along the Ehrendingen trails cover history, geology, nature and local heritage. They give the trails different thematic focuses, while the paths lead to places in the village. The gypsum quarry offers a different way to explore the landscape: from there, you can get a direct look inside the folds of the Lägern. Visitors particularly interested in geology will find a specific point of interest alongside the historical and natural-history topics covered by the boards.

The cave in front of the Heidewiibliloch is also among the described excursion destinations. It is a popular barbecue spot for adults and children. The local trails, geological viewpoint and barbecue spot appeal to different interests; they should not be understood as a single, fixed itinerary.

Chapels, Churches and Mill History

The area north of the Lägern was already inhabited in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Ehrendingen itself was first mentioned in a document in 1040 under the name “Aradingin”. A chapel on the site of the Ecumenical Centre was first recorded in writing in 1370. Around 1530, St. Blaise’s Church was built on the site of an earlier chapel.

According to wall examinations carried out in 1994, St. Agatha’s Chapel dates back to the 11th or 12th century. Two Romanesque round-arched openings with splayed reveals, one on the north side and one on the south, date from the time it was built. Inside are three late Gothic wooden sculptures of Saints Agatha, Margaret and Verena. The altarpiece is a Crucifixion group dated 1627: the figure of Christ is carved, while Mary and John are painted. The chapel has been protected as a historic monument since 1966.

The core of the parish church of St. Blaise and St. Francis Xavier dates to 1620. It was extended to its present length in 1828, and the existing polygonal choir was added in 1837. Today, the choir is used as a side chapel and houses a Neoclassical scagliola altar by the Huttle brothers, dating from 1838/39, as well as a baptismal font from 1587. The choir, its furnishings and the tower are protected as monuments by the canton.

Another part of the village’s history is the gypsum mill at Tiefenwaag 4, first documented in 1278. Cantonal protection covers its exterior and technical features such as the channel, waterwheel and millstones. The faithfully reproduced undershot waterwheel, made of oak, has eight spokes and 32 paddles. Water is channelled in through an artificial earth channel; a sluice allows the flow to be regulated. Earlier cement production is also part of Ehrendingen’s industrial history: cement was produced here on a large scale between 1892 and 1902.

Discover Village History Online

The virtual village museum brings together digitised historical photos, films and documents about local stories, places and people. It features four initial online exhibitions, with more to come. “Ehrendingen from Above” presents aerial photographs from the past 100 years, while “That’s How It Used to Be …” explores historical views of the village. The exhibition “Cows, Cherries and Potatoes” focuses on Ehrendingen’s agriculture. These different themes offer a way to explore village history through images, documents and aspects of local life.

Fruit and Seasonal Produce

An orchard in Ehrendingen produces apples, pears, cherries and plums, primarily for direct sale. The orchard’s farm shop is open year-round and offers other agricultural products. At Frei’s farm shop, you can pick strawberries in the field yourself from around the beginning of June; cherries from the orchard are available from around mid-June. These dates are approximate and may vary depending on the weather and harvest conditions.

Connection to Baden

The Aargau night network includes route N73 between Baden and Ehrendingen. If this connection is an option for your trip, check the timetable for your chosen date. This keeps practical travel planning separate from discovering the history and landscape on site.

Discover more destinations: Stetten, Würenlingen, Birmenstorf, Spreitenbach, Busslingen, Gebenstorf, Baden, Künten

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Baden.