Signau’s village centre was added to the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites of National Importance in 1976. The diversity of its historic buildings brings the place to life: farmhouses, former inns, a church precinct and bridges tell the story of homes, crafts, religious life and transport. Rather than a single attraction, the focus is on a whole network of buildings.
Farmhouses and former uses
The Lichtgut farmhouse group consists of two substantial farmhouses and a granary dating from 1745. The Moser House was built between 1756 and 1760 as a substantial timber-frame building beneath a hipped roof with a kinked quarter-hip. Its open gallery originally served as a drying room for textiles: farmers brought their handwoven cloth there to be dyed. The house therefore also offers an insight into a former working practice.
The Beck House, too, combines architecture with former uses. This grand timber-frame building with a segmental-arch gallery dates from around 1788. For a time, it served as a «Salzbütti», or salt shop during the salt monopoly. In 1977, the house was moved back three metres from the road. The Gasthof zum Roten Thurm is a late Baroque plastered building over an older core, built in 1769. It has been mentioned as an inn since the 16th century; in earlier times it was known as «zum höchen Huus».
Church precinct and historic bridges
The church in Signau’s church precinct has Romanesque origins dating from the 13th or 14th century. It was later given a slight Gothic extension, and underwent extensive renovation in 1850. The ensemble includes the rectory from 1742, the Pfarrstöckli from 1792 and a wooden bridge connecting the rectory and church. A Bourbaki memorial stone commemorates four soldiers who died in Signau’s church after being interned there.
The bridges, too, tell of different periods and construction methods. The first bridge at the site of the Schüpbach Bridge was built in 1550 and was the first bridge in the Emmental that could be crossed by vehicles. It was rebuilt in 1839 as an arch structure without piers. Until the bypass road was built in 1980, it formed part of the cantonal road from Bern to Langnau. The Aeschau Bridge connects the village of Aeschau, which belongs to the municipality of Eggiwil, across the Emme with the Ramsei farm on the left bank, in Signau municipality. Following the demolition of the Obermatt Bridge in Emmenmatt in 2007, which was three years newer, it is considered the only classic truss bridge in the Emmental.
Hiking and exploring the Emmental
Hikers can choose from circular routes with different points of interest. The historic circular hike leads from Signau to the ruins of Alt-Signau Castle and back. Along the way, it passes Signau Church, old church bells and a historic sunken lane. The Waldhäusern circular hike also starts and ends in Signau, passing through Ofeneggalp, Waldhäusern and the Niedermattgraben, mostly through woodland and across meadows. It reaches the Waldhäusern viewpoint. A hiking route from Signau to Eggiwil runs via Schüpbach, Howacht and Blapbach.
The Emmental landscape around Signau includes woodland, open pastures, scattered farms and hamlets; numerous officially signposted hiking trails cross the area. As a regional option, the Holzbrücken-Weg in the upper Emmental covers around 23 kilometres and includes 18 wooden bridges. It can be explored on foot or by bicycle; the Schüpbach Bridge links it directly to the Signau area.
Quiet roads and tracks with little traffic invite you to explore the area around Signau by bicycle. A longer-distance option is the Herzroute, regional cycle route 99 from Lausanne to Rorschach. It comprises thirteen day stages, with FLYER e-bikes available as a support option.
Getting there and practical information
From Signau, the S2 takes you to Bern in just over half an hour and to Langnau in about eight minutes. Check the timetable before departure and, for hikes, check current trail conditions. If you are cycling the Herzroute, check seasonal information about e-bike support in advance as well.
Discover more destinations: Schangnau, Oberfrittenbach, Langnau Im Emmental, Signau, Gohl, Zollbrück, Lauperswil, Eggiwil, Röthenbach Im Emmental, Trubschachen, Rüderswil.
See the main travel overview: Bern.
