Discover Zofingen: Old Town and Roman history

Zofingen lies in the Wigger Valley, in the far southwest of the canton of Aargau and close to the border with the canton of Lucerne. This small medieval town is situated at the end of the Wigger Valley. Its Old Town is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved in all of Switzerland. For orientation, Zofingen is near the intersection of Switzerland’s main north–south and west–east transport routes, as well as the junction of the A1 and A2 motorways.

Old Town, church and Roman history

At the heart of the Old Town stands St. Mauritius, the town church and former collegiate church, and Zofingen’s landmark. Its three-aisled layout dates from the 11th century, and the church tower is over 60 metres tall. St. Mauritius thus brings together an early architectural design, landmark status and the tower’s striking height.

The town’s history goes back further: in antiquity, Zofingen was a settlement of the Celtic Helvetii, and the Romans later built an estate there. Alemanni settled here in the 6th century and established one of the oldest parishes in Aargau. In the 11th century, the Frohburgs founded a collegiate chapter. This sequence connects the town’s early settlement with its medieval development.

The remains of the Roman estate within the municipality include restored mosaic floors dating from the first half of the 1st century AD. They are open to visitors free of charge; check current visiting arrangements before your visit. The manor house of the estate is over 100 metres long and is considered the largest manor house among the approximately 200 Roman estates in the canton of Aargau.

Heiternplatz and paths through the countryside

With its square of lime trees, Heiternplatz provides a setting for outdoor events and walks. From there, you can enjoy views of the Old Town and the Alps. The square of lime trees was established as a parade ground in 1745, linking the site’s historical origins with its present-day role as a place for walks and events.

The Zofingen Wildlife Park, Heiternplatz, the nearby forest and the surrounding fields and meadows can all be reached via well-maintained walking paths. The wildlife park is home to red, fallow, axis and sika deer, as well as wild boar, turkeys and chickens. The species composition may change. Walking and wildlife watching offer different ways to enjoy the outdoors.

The Zofingen Fruit Variety Garden lies on the “Reuten” around Heiternplatz. It covers about 9 hectares and has 800 standard fruit trees; the number of trees may change. So far, 441 different fruit varieties have been identified there, and cataloguing is ongoing. The garden offers several perspectives through its size, its fruit-tree cultivation and the continuing identification of its diversity.

Art, park and a mystery trail

The Rose Garden invites you to stroll and linger on its sunbathing and play lawn, as well as in its exercise and sculpture park. The Zofingen Art Museum presents four exhibitions of contemporary art each year. These include painting, drawing, photography and sculpture, as well as installations, new media works and performances.

On the third floor of the Zofingen Museum, mammals and birds are displayed in so-called dioramas in naturalistic settings. Together with the Art Museum, the cultural offering thus ranges from contemporary art forms to depictions of animals in naturalistic scenes.

The Detective Trail is suitable for pushchairs and has plenty of rest stops along the way. Public barbecue areas are located near puzzle stations 12 and 13. For planning purposes, note the distinction: the rest stops are on the trail, while the barbecue areas are near these two stations.

The main attractions make it easy to choose a focus for your trip: the Old Town, St. Mauritius and the Roman estate offer insights into the town’s history and architecture; Heiternplatz and the walking paths are all about views and scenery. The Art Museum, the Zofingen Museum and the Rose Garden add exhibitions, animal displays and parkland to the mix.

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

Return to the main travel overview: Zofingen.