The municipality of Lauperswil extends across both sides of the Emme and across the valley, from Blasenfluh to Gränichenwald, the source area of the Lower Frittenbach. The river is part of the municipality’s landscape and also plays a role in its history. Architecture, local tradition and economic change offer different ways to explore the area—from the Late Gothic church to the former production of valley cheese.
Church and Local Tradition
Lauperswil’s church stands prominently on the hillside at the edge of the village centre. It is a Late Gothic hall church with an older tower and outstanding fittings. A hall church is characterised by a single, continuous main space. Its architectural form and fittings can therefore be considered as distinct aspects: the building type describes the church interior, while the ceiling and stained glass draw attention to details inside. The ceiling, dating from the time of construction, features polychrome flat-carved friezes; polychrome means decorated in several colours. There is also an exceptionally valuable cycle of stained-glass windows. For visitors interested in culture, architecture, wood carving and stained glass take centre stage.
In addition to the church’s architectural history, there is a testament to local tradition: Lauperswil has the oldest baptismal register in the Canton of Bern. A baptismal register records baptisms; the superlative places this written record within the canton. The church and the register offer two different perspectives on the history of the area—one through the building and its fittings, the other through church records.
From Early Settlement to Dairy Farming
Settlement in Lauperswil began around the year 700, when the first Alemanni settled in the region. A later date concerns the Emme: on 28 October 1551, Bern granted the communities of the Upper Emmental permission to build a bridge over the river. This makes the Emme tangible as the subject of a specific historical bridge project.
In 1824, the hamlet of Längenbach became one of the first places in Switzerland to begin producing valley cheese. The income generated helped bring about a shift from grain production and horse breeding to dairy farming throughout the Emmental. The history of valley cheese is thus linked to a broader transformation of regional agriculture. Another milestone came in 1864, when the railway reached Lauperswil with the Bern–Langnau line; the station was located in Emmenmatt. These dates point to different topics—river crossings, agriculture and transport—and offer several perspectives on the area’s history.
Along the River
The Emme leisure trail follows the river along a flat, well-maintained hiking path. Its 18 virtual stations provide information and background stories for smartphones. Topics include everything from the gold rush and medieval routes to castles and churches. The trail combines outdoor exercise with historical themes and a digital information offering.
The leisure trail can be walked at any time without a reservation or advance registration. Seasonal conditions may affect accessibility, so take them into account when choosing when to visit. The combination of a flat path, smartphone information and a range of historical topics offers a different perspective from Lauperswil’s church architecture and fittings.
Discover more destinations: Langnau Im Emmental, Gohl, RĂĽderswil, ZollbrĂĽck, Trubschachen, Signau, Oberfrittenbach, Schangnau.
Back to the parent travel guide: Signau.
