Ossingen: Village Centre, Wine and Trails by Lake Husemersee

Ossingen combines a historic village centre with distinctive church architecture and trails by Lake Husemersee. The different hiking routes offer a practical framework for planning a stay: one leads from Oerlingen to Ossingen railway station, while another starts and ends in the village. Winegrowing and the former Rössli inn are also part of the village’s history.

Historic Village Centre and Church

The historic village centre of Ossingen is a clustered village on a gentle slope above a stream hollow. The arable and winegrowers’ houses mostly date from the 18th and 19th centuries and are predominantly built with timber framing. The settlement pattern, terrain and construction style together shape the village’s appearance. The former Rössli inn, the oldest tavern in the village, is part of this heritage. Its core dates from 1669/70; the house was remodelled in the 19th century. Today it is a residential building. The building offers a way to see former hospitality and present-day residential use as distinct chapters in the village’s history.

The Reformed church stands on elevated ground in the village; its tall church tower is visible from afar and shapes the village’s appearance. The church was built between 1651 and 1662. It is a regionally listed monument and is considered a typical Baroque rural church of the 17th century, significant in architectural history. Its construction date and architectural classification offer two different points of reference for understanding the church’s period and style.

Hikes by Lake Husemersee

The easy hike from Oerlingen to Ossingen is 5 km long and follows the Via Natura. It ends at Ossingen railway station and includes a loop around the lakes. There are fire pits and sunbathing lawns along the route for breaks.

The wine trail “Around Lake Husemersee”, Route 4, is also easy, but longer at 12.5 km. It starts and ends in Ossingen and leads from there to Truttikon, through the vineyards and along Lake Husemersee. The route returns to Ossingen via the hamlet of Langemoos. Compared with the 5 km hike, the greater distance and return to the starting point are the main differences.

Lake Husemersee is about a half-hour walk from Ossingen railway station. This is an approximate walking time for the route from the station to the lake; 5 and 12.5 km, by contrast, refer to the lengths of the hikes. On the southwestern shore of Lake Husemersee there is a sunbathing lawn and a bathing jetty. The rest of the shoreline is a nature reserve and may not be entered.

Winegrowing and Tastings

The wine trail passes through Ossingen, described as the home of Ossinger Zweigelt. At OertliWeine, grapes include Pinot Noir, Müller Thurgau, Kalina, Regent, Zweigelt, Chardonnay, Cabernet Dorsa and Cabernet Jura. OertliWeine vinifies its speciality wines and matures them in its own wine cellar. You can buy wine and attend tastings there in Ossingen. Call ahead and confirm the current offering before your visit.

Railway Station and Getting There

Ossingen railway station has a simple wooden station building with a gabled roof. It was added to a goods shed dating from 1875 in 1880; a waiting shelter stands beside it. The “Around Lake Husemersee” wine trail is accessible by train and bus. Check the timetable and route details before your tour so you can plan your journey and chosen route length together.

Discover more destinations: Wiler, Flurlingen, Oberstammheim, Humlikon, Laufen-Uhwiesen, Dachsen, Adlikon, Berg am Irchel

Go to the main travel overview: Andelfingen.