Mühlau lies on the eastern foothills of the Lindenberg, about half a kilometre from the banks of the Reuss. The Schoren Schachen nature reserve and the village’s historic buildings offer different focal points for a stay. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, first decide whether nature and walking routes or architectural history should shape your visit.
Schoren Schachen and the Reuss Landscape
Schoren Schachen is one of the largest nature reserves in the Aargau Reuss Plain. This 23-hectare fen is of national importance. In the northeast of the protected area lies the Riedwiesen flood-basin system, one of the most species-rich wetland areas in the Reuss Valley. The lapwing is also a notable sign of spring: it regularly breeds on the sparsely vegetated island and along the banks of Schoren Schachen.
The nature reserve has a 3.2-kilometre circular trail; a recommended 1.7-kilometre route and a 1.5-kilometre route variant are also marked. The two shorter routes differ by 200 metres; the circular trail, at 3.2 kilometres, is longer than either of them. The stated distances make it possible to compare the route lengths. Check trail conditions before your visit. Walking and hiking paths also follow the Reuss, cross open farmland and pass through the forests on the Lindenberg. Fields, streams, small forests and nature reserves along the Reuss are suitable for walks and cycling trips.
The municipality covers 5.52 square kilometres of farmland, marshes and around 74 hectares of forest. Its lowest point is by the Reuss at an elevation of 387 metres, and its highest point is at 475 metres. Mühlau has a rural character, a quiet village life and a natural setting.
Village History and Architecture
The Roman Catholic parish church is a cantonally protected architectural monument of regional importance, protected in its entirety. It is a three-bay hall church with a three-sided, closed choir. Its tower has a tall, octagonal pointed spire; the porch features Tuscan columns. The altars and pulpit, made of dark grey and black stucco marble, are by Joseph Moosbrugger and his son and date from 1864/65. The pulpit also features gilded reliefs, and the altarpiece is by Joseph Balmer.
Mühlau was first mentioned in a document in 1274 under the name “Mulnowe”; Roman settlement remains have been found within the municipality. Key historic buildings in the village centre include the rectory, the neighbouring church, the cantonally protected Gasthof zum Storchen and the farmhouse opposite at Rüstenschwilerstrasse 3. These buildings offer tangible points of reference for the village’s history, although they do not all belong to the same building type or have the same protected status.
Another architectural example is the Kestenberg granary: a two-storey timber building on a masonry base, with a projecting roof and a wraparound L-shaped gallery. In 1875, it belonged to a farm with a fruit press and a mill; its stone cellar was used as a washhouse for a time. The Hadorn family’s private museum in Schoren is open to the public by appointment. If you would like to visit, arrange your appointment in advance.
Getting There and Finding Your Way
You can reach Mühlau by train via the SBB stop in Krähenbühl. Check the timetable for your travel date. The Reuss bridge in Mühlau was inaugurated on 4 August 1940 and connects Mühlau with the cantons of Zug and Zurich. Together with the historic village buildings and Schoren Schachen, it offers another tangible way to discover the place and its history.
Discover more destinations: Aristau, Sins, Besenbüren, Beinwil, Muri, Abtwil, Bünzen.
Go to the main travel overview: Muri.
