A lakeside settlement dating back to the Stone Age, a medieval castle town and surroundings shaped by Lake Biel, the Aare and the Zihl: Nidau brings together waterscapes and a long urban history in a compact area. Natural recreation areas lie along the lake, the Nidau-Büren Canal and the Zihl. At the same time, the castle, old town and traces of the fortifications tell the story of the town’s development.
The castle and old town tell Nidau’s story
A wooden castle was built in Nidau around 1140; it was soon replaced by the stone structure now known as Nidau Castle. Around 1338, Rudolf III surrounded the settlement with an extensive ring wall. The ZiegelhĂĽttenturm is one of the parts of the medieval town fortifications that can still be identified today. The remains are accessible year-round and suitable for children. The historic town is also listed as a national site in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property.
The Nidau parish church also reflects several phases of construction: its core dates from the 14th or 15th century, its tower from 1609 to 1611, and its main building from 1678 to 1682. A monument has commemorated the pioneers of the Jura Water Correction since 1908. Bern granted Nidau town rights in 1425; however, only the 1548 version has survived. Taken together, these dates offer different insights into the town’s development rather than telling the story of a single period of construction.
Understand how the waterways changed at the castle museum
The permanent exhibition at Nidau Castle Museum presents the key facts about the Jura Water Correction. It explains how the Three Lakes Region has changed and why modifying the waterways became increasingly urgent to protect people’s lives and safety. A visit to the museum thus leads from the town’s history out into the landscape that continues to shape Nidau today. The exhibitions can be visited with or without a guided tour. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.
Between the town square, the lake and the lido
The renovated town square lies at the heart of the historic old town and provides space for markets and smaller events. You can get another view of Nidau by the water: the lido offers direct access to Lake Biel, a 50-metre swimming pool and a non-swimmer pool with a wide waterslide. Take bus route 4 to the Nidau Strandweg stop. Check current seasonal services before travelling.
There are various ways to enjoy an active time on the water. The first stage of Aare Kanu N°1 runs from Biel (Nidau) to Büren a. A. It is 13 kilometres long and rated easy in terms of technical difficulty and moderate in terms of fitness. Aareböötle à la biennoise starts at the Aare Canal in Nidau; depending on the water level and breaks, the trip takes around three to four hours. The Kanucenter Bielersee in Nidau is a canoe and kayak school open to everyone. On the Aare trip, Nidau is one of the ports of call; refreshments are available on board.
Another way to set aside time for an activity is urban golf: depending on skill level and group size, it takes two to three hours. After registering online, you can collect the equipment at Lago Lodge, Uferweg 5, 2560 Nidau. Check the latest booking information in advance.
Festivals with different flavours
The traditional Nidau Stedtlifest dates back to the first “Maisonntag” held in a Nidau neighbourhood in 1935; the festival was renamed Stedtlifest in 1980. Its varied programme is aimed at all generations, and the specific line-up changes from year to year. The traditional Zibelemärit combines culinary highlights and craftsmanship with alphorn music and a carousel.
The Festival of Cultures takes place every year. It showcases culinary specialities from various countries and combines them with a musical stage programme, games and fun for all ages. In Nidau, then, the programme features not only castle history and waterscapes, but also encounters and festive traditions.
Discover more destinations: Twann, Sutz-Lattrigen, Studen, Ligerz, Ipsach, Nidau, Täuffelen, Jens, Mörigen.
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