Discover Staffelbach

Staffelbach is in the Zofingen district of the canton of Aargau, in the upper Suhrental. The townscape is shaped mainly by agriculture. Exploring the village brings visitors into contact with several themes: the history of sandstone, historic buildings and the landscape along the Suhre.

Sandstone, museum and hiking trail

At the Staffelbach Sandstone Museum, five themed sections cover everything from the formation and extraction of sandstone to its importance as a valued regional building material, as well as trade and commerce in stove tiles. The geologically distinctive Staffelbach coarse sandstone layer is also part of the exhibition. This brings together the properties of the material and its uses in a shared local history.

The attic displays fossilised shark and ray teeth, as well as fossil remains of other marine creatures from the Staffelbach coarse sandstone. Staffelbach sandstone was also known as “Staffelbach marble” and was well known throughout Aargau and the neighbouring cantons in the 16th and 17th centuries.

At the stonemason’s hut, visitors can try working sandstone themselves with a mallet and chisel, and search the Staffelbach coarse sandstone for fossil shark teeth. The sandstone quarries are a ten-minute walk from the museum. The Sandstone Museum Staffelbach circular trail leads from the museum to the quarries and is described as an easy hike.

There is an important restriction for visiting the quarries: due to the risk of falling rocks, they have been closed to visitors since March 2025 and must not be entered. The hiking trail remains open; from there, you can view the quarries from a safe distance and with due caution. Check the warning again before your visit.

Historic buildings in Staffelbach

The tithe barn is a fully protected building of regional significance. The long masonry building has two round-arched gateways; the year 1592 is inscribed on one arch on the west façade. The building is dated to around 1511. The structure and façade detail therefore offer different points of reference for viewing the building.

Another example of the area’s architectural history is the high-stud house at Mühleweg 22. It is a very well-preserved timber-framed building with plank walls and was restored in 2018. It is thought to date from the 17th century. Taken together, the tithe barn and the high-stud house illustrate different architectural styles and periods: a long masonry building on the one hand, and a well-preserved timber-framed house on the other. The date assigned to the high-stud house remains an estimate, while its restoration is documented as having taken place in 2018.

Landscape and seasonal activities

The BLN area 1317, “Staffelbach terminal moraine zone”, covers five Aargau municipalities, including Staffelbach, and measures 358 hectares. The Suhre is also part of this landscape: the stretch between Staffelbach and Attelwil/Moosleerau is one of Switzerland’s most valuable habitats for river dragonflies.

For a winter activity, the Kalthof-Wiliberg cross-country ski trail runs from Kalthof 1 above Staffelbach across the plateau towards Wiliberg. It is around seven kilometres long. The trail is seasonal, and its availability depends on snow conditions. Take this into account when planning and check conditions in advance.

The Ufem Chalt mountain inn makes a suitable stop during a cycling tour or hike. It offers homemade specialities such as cakes, simple dishes and regional products; the menu may change. This means you can choose what suits the activities you have planned, without mistaking the seasonal ski trail for an option available all year round.

Postbus services run from Staffelbach to Schöftland and Sursee. There, connections are available to AAR bus + bahn and SBB services, respectively. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Safenwil, Rothrist, Zofingen, Kölliken, Bottenwil, Roggwil.

Back to the main travel overview: Zofingen.