Safenwil: The Atem-Weg, Karl Barth and classic cars

Safenwil combines trails through wooded areas with local history and a collection of classic cars. When planning your trip, both its location between several valleys and the different trail routes and visiting arrangements are worth considering.

Safenwil between the valleys

Safenwil lies between the Uerke Valley and the Wigger Valley and borders the canton of Solothurn. The village is in a hollow at the transition between the Wigger Valley to the west and the Uerke and Suhre valleys to the east. To the north, the cross-valley is bounded by the Engelberg range, part of the folded Jura, and by the hills of Safenwilerwald. To the south, the Bühnenberg–Hochwacht–Heizenberg–Halden ridge forms a boundary; it is a formation of the Molasse massif in the Swiss Plateau.

The Atem-Weg and cultural trails

The Atem-Weg follows two routes of different lengths through wooded areas in the municipalities of Oftringen, Safenwil, Uerkheim and Zofingen. The longer route is around seven kilometres long and has ten stops featuring small, playful experiments in mindful breathing. Its length and stops give you concrete points of reference for deciding how to fit this route into your plans.

The Barth-Thurneysen-Weg opened in Safenwil on 23 August 2019. It has stops at five Reformed churches between Safenwil and Leutwil. The Huguenot Trail runs from Zofingen via Safenwil to Aarau. The three routes have different focuses: the Atem-Weg offers breathing experiments, churches serve as stops along the Barth-Thurneysen-Weg, and the Huguenot Trail passes through Safenwil on its way between Zofingen and Aarau.

Reformed Church and Karl Barth Room

Safenwil Reformed Church stands on a rise south of the village street, which runs through the village. It is generally open only for church services. Arrange visits with the parish office.

The Karl Barth Room is in the old rectory and is opened for visits on request. Objects and photographs from Karl Barth’s life are on display there. A small, uncomfortable desk can also be viewed. Barth was a pastor in Safenwil from 1911 to 1921 and wrote his “Commentary on Romans” (1919/1922) here. The room thus brings together personal items on display and episodes from his time in the village.

Classic Car Museum

The Classic Car Museum is housed in the halls of a former textile factory. Between 50 and 60 classic cars from the Emil Frey Classics AG collection are on permanent display. The focus is on collectors’ and enthusiasts’ cars, with gleaming chrome and paintwork, dating from the period after the Second World War through to the 1980s. The cars are mostly from England and Japan. Their era and origins give the collection a clearly defined profile among Safenwil’s attractions: here, the development of classic cars takes centre stage, while the trails and the Karl Barth Room show other sides of the village.

Back to the main travel overview: Zofingen.