Holderbank on the Aare: Nature, Trails and History

Holderbank lies in the Lenzburg district on the Aare, halfway between Lenzburg and Brugg. The village is situated between the river and the steep western slope of the Chestenberg. Forests, rocky slopes, gravel pits and the river landscape shape the municipal area. It stretches from 348 metres by the Aare to 647 metres at its highest point. In Holderbank, the river corridor and the hillside landscape meet. You can choose from several focal points for your stay: nature and geology at the Schümel, trails along the Aare and on the Chestenberg, and historic buildings in the village.

Nature and geology at the Schümel

The former Schümel quarry is now a nature reserve of cantonal importance. Rare and endangered plants and animals can be found in the old quarry. The composition of species may vary seasonally, but its ecological value endures. Schümel is also geologically impressive: the quarry is considered a geological monument and is notable for its abundance of fossils.

Another geological highlight is Holcim’s freely accessible rock trail, created in collaboration with the “Erlebnis Geologie” association. It is more than one kilometre long and features 27 exhibits showing rock types from across Switzerland, from the Jura to Ticino. The arrangement of the exhibits may change. The geological themes differ: the rock trail focuses on rock types from various parts of Switzerland, while Schümel is notable for the quarry’s abundance of fossils.

Trails, the Aare and the Chestenberg

The Schümel nature reserve can be crossed on a trail running from north to south, or in the opposite direction. Another access route follows the hiking trail from Wildegg Castle to Chärnenberg. Holderbank stop is a seven-minute walk from the starting point for a visit to Schümel. There is a car park below Schümel; from there, it is a three-minute walk to the starting point. Before your visit, check current access, local trail routes and parking availability. Signage, parking conditions and trail restrictions may change. You should also check train connections in the timetable beforehand.

In Holderbank, people fish on the Aare from the banks and from boats, while walkers use the Aare dam. Trails also run along the Aare and over the ridge of the Chestenberg. The hiking trail network on the Chestenberg offers views of the Swiss Plateau, the Aare Valley and the Schenkenberg Valley. This gives you a choice of different experiences: the Aare dam runs alongside the river, while the ridge trails offer views across several landscapes.

Village history and historic buildings

Holderbank was first mentioned in 1259 under the name “Halderwang”. At the time, the estate was a fief of the Alsatian princely abbey of Murbach. In 1291, King Rudolf I of Habsburg bought it from the monastery; in 1415, Holderbank came under Bernese rule. Since 1803, the village has belonged to the canton of Aargau.

Holderbank Church was endowed in the early 18th century by the lords of Wildegg Castle, the Effinger family, and built on the site of a medieval predecessor. The master builder was Samuel Jenner (1653–1720) from Bern. The church has been protected as a cantonal monument since 1960. Four Effinger family tombs are located in the churchyard to the north of the church.

The high-post house at Hausmattenstrasse 1 dates from 1634 and is considered Holderbank’s oldest building. It is the only example of this building type in the old village centre and occupies a prominent position. The rectory at Effingerstrasse 1 was formerly a steward’s house belonging to Wildegg Castle. The former cement and lime production has also left visible traces; the old quarry site still divides the village into two halves.

Discover more destinations: Othmarsingen, Lenzburg, Seengen, Rupperswil, Möriken-Wildegg, Hunzenschwil, Meisterschwanden.

Go to the main travel overview: Lenzburg.