Roman finds, historic buildings, a striking mill wheel and the old-growth and deadwood reserve in the Aspiwald offer different ways to explore Kallnach. The village is one of Switzerland’s longest street villages and lies at the foot of a moraine left by the Rhône Glacier. To the northwest stretches the Grosses Moos, now used for agriculture and also serving as a local recreation area.
Roman remains and archaeological finds
Remains of a Roman road connecting Aventicum and Petinesca were found in Aspi. The 1989 excavations left several interpretations of Kallnach open: the site may have been a Roman rest stop, customs post or horse-changing station. Several Roman buildings are also known in the present-day village centre; they belonged to a large agricultural estate.
A late-antique building on Bergweg was constructed at the end of the 3rd century and used until the early 5th century. Of the five rooms investigated, at least one had painted wall plaster and glazed windows—an unusually high standard of construction for late antiquity. The finds thus offer insight into different uses and building methods over several centuries.
On the ridge of Challnechwald is one of the larger known groups of early Iron Age burial mounds in Switzerland. They date from approximately 800 to 450 BC. The four most prominent mounds were excavated as early as the 1870s. A rescue excavation also uncovered a gold earring around 2,500 years old.
Church, SchĂĽrstube and mill history
In the village centre, the church, rectory and Pfrundscheune—which is known as the Schürstube—form a historic group of buildings. The present-day church was built in 1607 and is open to everyone at all times; it offers a space for quiet and meditation. In the Schürstube, you can see large-format images of the old choir windows, which date from 1627. Two bells formerly used in the church also hang beside it: one bears the date 1487, and the other was cast in Bern by Abraham Gerber in 1691.
The former grain mill at MĂĽhlegasse 14 has structural elements dating back to 1640. Its metal waterwheel, built in 1895, is 7.5 metres in diameter and has 54 paddles; it is one of the largest functioning waterwheels in Switzerland. The mill rooms have been preserved in their original condition. Some of the machines can still grind flour, and the rooms are now used mainly for cultural purposes.
MOULIN KALLNACH is a venue for cultural events and art exhibitions, with rooms available for workshops and courses of all kinds. Guided baking days at the municipality-owned bakehouse offer another hands-on insight into local culture: participants bring their own dough, heat the oven with guidance, shape their bread and bake it themselves.
Forest and cultural trails
Since 2010, the Aspiwald has been home to a 1.9-hectare old-growth and deadwood reserve. Old trees are deliberately left standing or lying where they fall, and allowed to decay naturally; this provides a habitat for species that depend on old-growth and deadwood. A hiking trail and a cycling route pass directly by the reserve. Here, you can observe the forest’s natural decay and biodiversity up close.
The Kallnach Burgergemeinde’s digital forest trail shares information about the local forest stands and their diversity. It features two themed sections along a route that starts and ends at the Burgerschopf. The Burgerschopf is the Burgergemeinde’s maintenance depot at Haseneggenweg 18.
The “Kallnach: Then and Now” cultural trail takes around two to three hours. There are information boards with stories about 31 buildings. A permanent cultural trail through Kallnach also showcases 49 drawings by Theodor von Lerber. They depict rural architecture and the family histories of local residents. This allows you to choose different focuses for your stay: archaeological history, village buildings, a longer cultural trail or wildlife watching in the forest.
Discover more destinations: Radelfingen, Lyss, Aarberg, Rapperswil, SchĂĽpfen, Seedorf.
Return to the main travel overview: Aarberg.
