Mühlau: Schoren Schachen and the village church

Mühlau lies on the eastern foothills of the Lindenberg, around half a kilometre from the banks of the Reuss. The village has a rural character, a peaceful village life and a natural setting. The municipality’s 5.52 km² area includes farmland and marshes, as well as around 74 hectares of forest. The lowest point is on the Reuss at 387 m, and the highest is at 475 m. The river landscape and historic buildings offer different ways to discover Mühlau during your stay.

Getting there and the landscape

Mühlau can be reached by train via the SBB stop in Krähenbühl. For specific travel plans, it is a good idea to check the current timetable. The Reuss bridge was inaugurated on 4 August 1940 and connects Mühlau with the cantons of Zug and Zurich.

Along the Reuss, fields, streams, small woods and nature reserves shape the surroundings; they are well suited to walks and cycling tours. Walking and hiking trails run alongside the river, through open farmland and through the forests on the Lindenberg. When planning, you can choose between a tour near the river, paths through open countryside and routes through the woods.

Schoren Schachen: marshland and trails

Schoren Schachen is one of the largest nature reserves in the Aargau Reuss plain. It includes a 23-hectare fen of national importance. In the northeast of the protected area is the Riedwiesen flood-depression system, one of the most species-rich areas of the Reuss Valley wetlands. The contrast between the marshland and the surrounding landscapes makes the area a special destination for anyone interested in nature along the Reuss.

There are several designated distances to choose from when planning your route: a 3.2 km circular trail, a recommended 1.7 km route and a 1.5 km route variant. Comparing them can help you choose a distance that suits your day’s plans; check trail conditions in advance if needed. In spring, lapwings regularly nest on the sparsely vegetated island and along the banks of Schoren Schachen.

Village history and architecture

Mühlau was first mentioned in a document in 1274 under the name “Mulnowe”. Remains of Roman settlements have also been found within the municipality. One notable building in the village is the Roman Catholic parish church, a cantonally protected monument in its entirety and of regional importance.

The church is a three-bay hall church with a three-sided closed choir. Its tower has a tall, octagonal pointed spire; the porch rests on Tuscan columns. The furnishings include altars and a pulpit made of dark grey and black stucco marble by Joseph Moosbrugger and his son in 1864/65. There are also gilded reliefs on the pulpit and an altarpiece by Joseph Balmer.

The church stands in the historic village centre beside the rectory. The cantonally protected Gasthof zum Storchen and the farmhouse opposite at Rüstenschwilerstrasse 3 are also part of the historic village setting. Another historic building is the Kestenberg granary: a two-storey timber building on a masonry base, with a projecting roof and a wraparound L-shaped gallery. In 1875, it was part of a farm with a fruit press and a mill; its stone cellar was used as a washhouse for a time.

The Hadorn family’s private museum in Schoren can also be included in your plans. It is open to the public by appointment, so visits must be arranged in advance.

Discover more destinations: Aristau, Besenbüren, Bünzen, Beinwil, Sins, Muri, Abtwil.

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