Discover Affoltern Im Emmental

Affoltern Im Emmental combines a rural landscape with hiking trails and the Emmental Show Dairy. When planning a stay, you can choose between time outdoors, insights into cheese-making and topics from local history.

Landscape and hiking trails

The municipality’s landscape is characterised by meadows and pastures; many hills are largely covered with coniferous forest. Traditional granaries, Stöckli buildings and farmhouses decorated with flowers are among the area’s architectural heritage. The landscape and building styles offer different perspectives on Affoltern Im Emmental’s rural character.

An updated hiking map presented in April 2025 describes five circular walks without signposts: the Dorfweg, Luegweg, Panoramaweg, Gemeindeweg and Bärenbrunnenweg. The stated walking times range from 30 minutes to three hours. The selection therefore includes both short loops and routes that take longer. Since the routes described are not signposted, you should take this into account when planning.

The key details for the Luegweg are specific: this easy hike is 6.6 kilometres long, takes one hour and 45 minutes according to the route information, and starts and ends at the Emmental Show Dairy. The Bärenbrunnenweg is suitable for pushchairs; however, surface conditions may change. Comparing the two routes gives you different points of reference for planning: the stated distance and duration for the Luegweg, and pushchair suitability for the Bärenbrunnenweg.

On the Lueg, the Pöli viewpoint is at an elevation of 887 metres and has a barbecue area. The Emmental Photo Spot offers views across the hilly landscape as far as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau; mountain visibility depends on the weather. From the dairy’s paid car park, a signposted footpath leads to the Photo Spot in ten minutes. Parking information and trail markings may change, so it is worth checking them before your visit. You should also check current information about the barbecue area when planning an outing.

Discover cheese and regional cuisine

The Emmental Show Dairy grounds include several dairy buildings, ranging from the Stöckli dating from 1741 to the dairy built in 1989. A tour takes you through nine rooms and into the maturing cellar. The buildings’ dates and the route through the rooms connect the development of the dairy buildings with a hands-on insight into cheese production and maturation.

In the Stöckli dating from 1741, visitors make their own cheese from 200 litres of fresh raw milk together with a cheesemaker. The fresh cheese workshop explains the individual cheese-making processes in 60 minutes. The activities therefore have different focuses: making your own cheese centres on taking part in the Stöckli, while the workshop focuses on explaining the production steps within a stated time frame. Booking and appointment options may change; check them in advance if you plan to take part in either activity.

The show dairy’s restaurant serves classic Swiss dishes made with regional ingredients. The cheese shop offers local Emmentaler AOP varieties, gift baskets with Emmentaler AOP and other regional specialities. The menu and product selection may change. The show dairy is also an official “Rent a Bike” rental station: six FLYER e-bikes can be hired from April to October for half a day or a full day. Fleet size and seasonal rental arrangements may also change. Various round trips by horse-drawn carriage run around the show dairy; reservation and operating arrangements may vary.

Local history and remembrance

Affoltern’s church was first mentioned in a document in 1275. The present form of the former St. Michael’s Church is thought to date from a new build or complete renovation in 1567. The Lueg Memorial commemorates Bernese cavalrymen who died during the Spanish flu in 1918. These historical points of interest complement the hiking and cheese themes with the history of the church building and a specific act of remembrance.

Discover more destinations: Häusernmoos Im Emmental.

Go to the main travel overview: Emmental.