Bremgarten: Reuss floodplains and cultural history

The Reuss shapes Bremgarten with a variety of landscapes: the Flachsee lies along a dammed section, while farther downstream the Reuss flows freely to the Aare. Historic town views, museums and trails linking nature and culture add to the region’s appeal. This makes it easy to tailor a stay to your own interests—from birdlife to the history of the region.

Flachsee, river and floodplains

The Flachsee nature reserve, a site of national importance, covers about 140 hectares between the bridge at Rottenschwil and Bremgarten-Zufikon. 58 bird species breed at the Flachsee, including 11 endangered species on the Red List. The birds found here include little ringed plovers, lapwings, kingfishers and great reed warblers. These figures and species give the area a clear profile for anyone interested in birdlife and aquatic landscapes.

From Bremgarten to its confluence with the Aare at Windisch, the Reuss flows freely for around 25 kilometres, with floodplain areas covering a total of 265 hectares along its course. The Reuss floodplain at Foort near Eggenwil offers a different perspective on the river landscape: its banks are close to nature, beavers build lodges and kingfishers dig their nesting burrows into steep banks. A hiking trail runs right alongside the Reuss through the jungle-like floodplain forest in the nature reserve. A new still-water habitat has also been created at Hegnau, in a bend in the river near Bremgarten.

Old town and museums

The old town of Bremgarten is a cultural monument of national importance, enclosed by the Reuss on three sides. The upper town and parts of the lower town are largely car-free. At the heart of the old town, the church precinct, with the town church of St. Nicholas and several chapels, forms a historic ensemble. These include St. Anna’s Chapel, the Chapel of Our Lady and St. Clara’s Chapel.

The Bremgarten City Museum is dedicated to the history of the town and its people, particularly everyday life. Its permanent and changing exhibitions present objects and images related to these subjects. A model of the old town, created by Erich Russenberger, is one of the highlights of the permanent exhibition. The Caspar Wolf Museum offers a different cultural focus: it displays the artist’s oil paintings, gouaches, drawings and prints, combining a permanent presentation with changing cabinet exhibitions about his work, art and times.

In Muri, the Museum of Medical History Books focuses on lavishly illustrated books and rarities from the early modern period, dating from 1480 to 1800. The exhibition is divided into “Images of the Body”, “Knowledge of Nature” and “Medical Practice”. Each book display includes a touchscreen explaining the author, historical context and significance of the work. The Muri Monastery Museum tells the stories of abbots and monks as well as the Habsburgs. The region therefore offers a range of perspectives: town history, art and the history of medical books.

Smaller places also offer their own themes. The Emaus Chapel in Zufikon lies above the Reuss riverbank, close to the forest and a former hermitage. A stone chapel was built there in the first half of the 15th century by an unknown benefactor. 17th-century picture cycles tell the stories of St. Anthony the Hermit and Niklaus von der Flüe; the small crypt is also open to visitors. At the Swiss Straw Museum, interactive stations featuring the mascot Zaggli encourage children to join in. The exhibition also shows how the work evolved from a rural craft into an export-oriented industry. A free guided tour of the permanent exhibition takes place on the first Sunday of the month; check the date before your visit.

Trails and activities along the Reuss

The sixth stage of the Habsburg Trail connects Bremgarten and Muri. Historic buildings and small information panels tell the story of the Habsburgs along the way. The Freiämterweg covers a wider area: this regional nature and culture trail was established as a circular route in 2004 and extends for more than 190 kilometres through natural landscapes and past cultural heritage sites in the Freiamt region. It can be divided into several stages and is accessible by public transport at many points. Muri is one of the starting points; more than 50 information panels along the trail cover history, geography and places of interest. While the Habsburg Trail describes a specific stage between two towns, the Freiämterweg is a longer regional route.

For an activity on the water, the Reuss Kanu canoe tour starts at the Bruggmühle power station in Bremgarten and passes wooded banks, rapids and numerous islands. From the “Bremgarten Obertor” tram stop, it is about a seven-minute walk to the launch site. Water conditions and operating arrangements may change; check them before making plans. Those interested in the use of hydropower can watch a demonstration of the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy at the Bremgarten Reuss Power Station Museum. Tours for private groups and school classes are available by prior telephone arrangement.

Murimoos offers further ways to explore the region, with a large playground, a water-play area on the renaturalised Bünz and the Murimoos Trail, where visitors can encounter the animals kept at the farm. From observing nature at the Flachsee to exploring the old town’s culture and walking longer sections of trail, visitors can choose different focuses when planning their trip.

Discover more destinations: Berikon, Wohlen, Bremgarten, Widen, Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg, Oberlunkhofen, Villmergen, Zufikon, Dottikon, Arni, Niederwil.

See the broader travel overview: Aargau.