Discover Aarau: Old Town, art and the Aare

Aarau has an urban character and is the centre of a diverse region. The city is the capital of the canton of Aargau and the district of Aarau. Its Old Town sits on a rocky promontory where the Aare Valley narrows at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains; newer parts of the city extend further south of the river valley. During your stay, you can focus on the city’s history, art and culture, or outdoor trails.

Old Town and historic buildings

More than 90 richly painted gables have earned Aarau the nickname “The City of Beautiful Gables”. A self-guided city walk takes you to sights such as the Obertorturm, the well-preserved street known as “Halde” and the “Haus zum Schlossgarten”. The Obertorturm is also known as the Oberturm or Oberer Turm and is considered a landmark of Aarau. It is also the tallest city tower in Switzerland. It is believed to date from the early 13th century. The tower is accessible only as part of a guided tour, so take this into account when planning your visit.

The town church also connects Aarau’s history with a present-day cultural theme. Its current building was constructed between 1471 and 1477 to replace a smaller earlier church. The church also hosts many concerts because of its excellent acoustics. On a walk through the city, historic buildings and cultural events thus offer different aspects of Aarau side by side.

Art, museums and events

The Aargauer Kunsthaus is dedicated to art from Switzerland and has 3,000 m² of exhibition space. The permanent exhibition “100x Aarau” is housed in the old part of the city museum, Stadtmuseum Aarau; the museum’s collection comprises 60,000 objects. Naturama Aargau has a permanent exhibition on the natural history of the canton. Interactive films, games and listening stations introduce visitors to the changing environment. The three museums each focus on a different subject: Swiss art, Aarau’s city history and the natural history of the canton.

The KIFF in the Telli quarter hosts a changing programme of concerts, parties and cabaret. In 2011, the canton of Aargau named the KIFF one of nine cantonal cultural beacons as part of its cultural promotion strategy. If you want events to be a highlight of your stay, check the current dates before your trip.

The Rüeblimärt offers regional products and culinary delights. It also features activities, special guided tours and events focused on nature and agriculture. The specific vendors and programme vary from year to year, so check the event details for the year of your visit when planning.

Trails, geology and nature

The Aarau Forest Adventure Trail is a family-friendly experience through the forest. Along the 3.5 km route are 14 stops with QR codes linked to an audio story. Allow around three hours for the trail. Seasonal conditions may affect access. The route length and estimated duration will help you plan how much time to set aside for the outing.

The Zelgli Geology Trail introduces visitors to geology and explains the formation and characteristics of the stones used in and around the school building. It has 13 numbered stops: nine outdoors and four inside the school building. The geo-education trail around Alte Kantonsschule Aarau also explores geology, particularly the study of rocks. Allow two to three hours to complete the full route, depending on your pace.

The entire area of Wildpark Roggenhausen, including all the animal enclosures, covers around 15 hectares. The park is open all year and admission is free; check the current visitor information before your visit. A walk along the Aare is also one of the recommended things to do in Aarau. In summer, you can paddle along part of the river on a stand-up paddleboard. Check the water and safety conditions before taking part.

Find a hotel for your stay in Aarau

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Discover more destinations: Küttigen, Gränichen, Oberentfelden, Muhen, Rohr, Suhr.

Go to the main travel overview: Aarau.