If you choose Heimisbach for a particular theme, a common thread is its connection to Simon Gfeller: the place name comes from his first book, and several hiking trails explore its literary history. There is also a bike route with published route details and picnic spots with barbecue facilities. You can tailor your stay to culture, hiking, cycling or a break outdoors.
Simon Gfeller and Culture in Heimisbach
On 1 January 1968, the valley community of Dürrgraben was given the name Heimisbach, after Simon Gfeller’s first book. The Simon Gfeller Memorial Room displays books and plays by the writer, as well as items from his estate, including letters, manuscripts, diaries, paintings and photographs. The collection brings together literary works and personal and artistic items from his estate.
Kultur ir Chäsi also focuses on literature, art and culture. In the former cheese dairy, Markus Staub presents these themes as stories in words, images and sound. While the memorial room showcases Gfeller’s books and estate, Kultur ir Chäsi covers a broader cultural spectrum. The two venues offer different ways to add a cultural focus to your stay.
Hiking in the Footsteps of Literature
The “Rund um Heimisbach” circular hike takes you around Heimisbach in the footsteps of Emmental writer Simon Gfeller. The “Rund um Simon Gfellers Heimisbach” route follows only signposted hiking trails and crosses the ridges around the former Dürrgraben. Along the way, it first passes the former Thal schoolhouse, which houses the Simon Gfeller Memorial Room, then climbs through the forest at Hämlismatt and reaches the official hiking trail at Rötlisberg.
A different story unfolds along the Emmental Ghost and Murder Stories Trail: its Heimisbach section is titled “Mammoth Hunt in Heimisbach”. The trail runs from Trachselwald to Kramershaus and continues towards Zollbrück as far as Geilisguet. Alongside the Gfeller circular hike, you can therefore choose a route with a story section by name and a longer sequence of trail sections.
Picnic Spots and a Bike Route
The Nülli picnic spot offers a place to rest during a hike and a small barbecue area. The access route goes via Heimisbach, Thal and Latärnegrabe, then continues via Holzsagi and Chnubel to Nülli. Check before setting off whether the route is still suitable. The public Schwarzenegg barbecue area also offers a place to grill and rest, and is open to everyone.
If you are considering a cycling trip instead of a hike, “Lüdere Bike” provides specific route details: the route is 25 kilometres long, with 820 metres of ascent. In Binzgrabe, the paved road follows the Binzbach downhill to Heimisbach. Seasonal conditions may affect access, so take them into account when planning.
Heimisbach in the Emmental
The municipality of Trachselwald, including Heimisbach, is in the heart of the Emmental. The municipality lies in the region’s hilly landscape, about 15 minutes from the regional centres of Burgdorf and Langnau. The trails and cultural sites offer different ways to experience the area, from Gfeller’s literary connection to signposted hiking trails and a cycling route with a specified distance and elevation gain.
For the broader travel overview: Trachselwald.
