At Inkwilersee, the cantonal boundary runs through the landscape: the small, very shallow lake lies roughly half in the canton of Solothurn and half in the canton of Bern. The Solothurn side, including the lakeshore, is designated as a cantonal nature reserve. Its development from open water into a fen is now in its final phase. With 38 known dragonfly species, Inkwilersee is one of the lakes with the greatest dragonfly diversity in the Swiss Plateau.
Bogs, Lakes and Protected Waters
The Chlepfibeerimoos lies east of Burgäschisee, in the municipality of Aeschi. It is the only raised bog in the canton of Solothurn, a cantonal nature reserve and a bog of national importance. The protected area is off limits to visitors. The car park by Burgäschisee offers an unobstructed view of the raised bog; please follow the current protection and information signs on site.
Burgäschisee is ideal for walking, relaxing, swimming, rowing and barbecuing. Swimming is permitted only at the lido or public bathing area. Allow around half an hour for a walk around the lake. The «Seeblick» restaurant by the lake serves fresh, seasonal regional dishes; it is worth checking briefly for current offerings.
Water and floodplain conservation also has a long history along the Aare and in the Emmenschachen: the Aare water area has had reserve status since the 1970s, and the Emmenschachen since the 1990s. The protected species and habitats include waterbirds, migratory birds and the floodplain. Large groundwater flows run parallel to the Emme through Wasseramt.
The district lies in the southern part of the canton of Solothurn, in the Swiss Plateau region, and borders the canton of Bern. As an administrative district, it belongs to the Bucheggberg-Wasseramt administrative division. Former industrial sites sit alongside more rural municipalities—a contrast also reflected in day-trip destinations that span nature and culture.
Explore Wasseramt on Foot and by Bike
For a short walk, take the loop around Burgäschisee. A 2022 brochure describes the 12-kilometre forest walk along the Emme as flat and easy to divide into sections of any length. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Another hiking route passes along the Emmenkanal and by the weirs and regulating structures, which are regarded as relics of bygone times.
If you prefer cycling, consider the Urzeitenweg: this roughly 35-kilometre tour mostly follows side roads and country lanes through a total of 13 municipalities in Wasseramt. Its theme is a journey through time, from the Stone Age through the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, and it explores subjects such as culture, medicine, work and production. The tour combines exercise with a thematic look at the region’s early history.
Between Gerlafingen and Zuchwil, the «EinflussEmme» app turns one section into a digital outdoor experience. It offers facts, animated graphics, audio and video content, and interactive games for individual visitors and school groups. As app availability and features can change, it is best to check in advance whether it is currently available.
From Castles to Industrial History
The open-air Museum Wasseramt – Turm in Halten includes a 12-metre-high residential tower belonging to the Kyburg ministerial nobility, a group of old granaries and a bakehouse. Exhibits cover the history of the castle, textiles, traditional costumes, ceramics and tiles, as well as agricultural equipment and tools from various trades. The museum is easy to reach by public transport; check current connections before travelling.
At the Spinnerei 1863 Museum, the historic buildings of the former Emmenhof cotton mill offer insights into crafts, industry and the development of motorcycles. On display are 75 motorcycles from the Schellhammer two-wheeler foundation, including motorcycles made by Nuremberg manufacturer Triumph TWN between 1906 and 1956. Transmission-driven machines are running again in the former mechanical workshop. Contact the museum directly for visitor information.
Archaeological finds are among Wasseramt’s discoveries, too: finds from the early Celtic burial mounds at Heidenmoos are on display in the foyer of the school centre in Subingen. The exhibition may change; check before visiting whether the finds are currently on display there.
Discover more destinations: Luterbach, Aeschi, Zuchwil, Kriegstetten, Biberist, Steinhof, Hersiwil, Horriwil, Subingen, Bolken.
Back to the main travel guide: Solothurn.
