Discover Trachselwald: Culture and Hiking Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Trachselwald, your planned itinerary can help you decide: the castle and church offer a focus on cultural history, while the hiking trails vary in theme and length.

Trachselwald Castle and its history

Trachselwald Castle was built by barons in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was fortified for defensive purposes and also served as a prison until the 20th century. Several information panels and audio stations provide information about the Peasants’ War and the persecution of the Anabaptists. The exhibition “Paths to Freedom” is housed in the former remand prison of the Trachselwald district. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of October 2026; if you visit later, check the opening hours again.

Opposite the exhibition, the keep houses a prison from the Middle Ages and the modern era, which visitors can explore. The keep itself is freely accessible at your own risk. A marked hiking trail leads from the village to the castle in about ten minutes; check current trail conditions before setting out.

Church, zither and Simon Gfeller

Trachselwald Church acquired its present appearance following a complete renovation in 1686. The interior ceiling paintings also date from this renovation; the tombstone of May is also located there. The former land clerk’s office is now the Swiss Zither Cultural Centre. It is the only museum in Switzerland whose collection displays every type of zither played in Switzerland. Temporary exhibitions, cultural events and concerts are held there regularly. Public Sunday guided tours are accompanied by a concert; check the seasonal programme before your visit.

The Simon Gfeller Museum showcases Simon Gfeller’s literary works, including books and plays, as well as part of his estate, with letters, manuscripts, diaries, drafts and photographs. The place name Heimisbach also commemorates the writer: the Dürrgraben valley area was renamed Heimisbach on 1 January 1968 in honour of Simon Gfeller. He attended school at the old schoolhouse in Thal from 1875 to 1884; a memorial room has been there since 1970.

Hiking trails by theme and length

The Anabaptist Trail is about eight kilometres long and combines nature with a historical circuit. It runs from Sumiswald via Haretegg to Trachselwald Castle and back to Sumiswald; along the way are ten historic sites with ten information panels. The hike “Around Simon Gfeller’s Heimisbach” is considerably longer at 19.7 kilometres and includes 718 metres of ascent and 719 metres of descent. The two routes therefore differ both in length and in their thematic focus.

The hike “Around Simon Gfeller’s Heimisbach” starts at Grünenmatt station, heads towards Trachselwald and follows a minor road directly to the village entrance. Along the high-level section, there are views into forest-enclosed valleys, across the rolling hills of the Emmental and towards the Jura and the Alps; visibility depends on the weather. Check the current route description before planning your hike.

The “Mammoth Hunt in Heimisbach” hiking trail leads from Trachselwald to Kramershaus and continues towards Zollbrück as far as Geilisguet. The bus stop listed for this trail is Heimisbach, Wagnershaus; check the current timetable before travelling.

More activities and regional highlights

Trachselwald Castle lies on e-bike routes 399 and 699, as well as cycle route 94. In winter, the Giselguet ski lift is run by a small group, who also groom the slope. For a culinary treat, Gasthof Chrummholzbad serves regional and seasonal specialities. Emmental regional products include traditional Bernese sausages and other cured meats, local beer, pasta, cheese from village dairies and fresh honey; 80 percent of the ingredients in these products come from the Emmental.

Discover more destinations: Heimisbach, Walterswil, Wyssachen, Rüegsbach, Eriswil, Dürrenroth, Huttwil, Sumiswald

See the main travel overview: Trachselwald.