Othmarsingen: Historic Buildings and the Freiämterweg

Othmarsingen lies in the lower Bünz Valley in the canton of Aargau and the district of Lenzburg, just under three kilometres east of Lenzburg. If you are looking for a hotel in Othmarsingen, three specific local points of interest can help you get your bearings: historic buildings, the Bünzaue and the Freiämterweg. You can plan your trip around whether you are most interested in architectural history, a river landscape or a longer hiking route.

Local history in buildings

The Chapel of St Mary in Othmarsingen was first mentioned in a letter from 1421. Othmarsingen Church was built in 1675 as a new building at a different location from the former chapel. The local history therefore includes two distinct milestones: the chapel’s first recorded mention and the later construction of a new church at another site.

The secular architectural history also features different types of buildings. The Urechhaus is a three-storey burgher house with a hipped roof; A.C. von Sinner had it built in 1783. The Old Mill is one of the oldest buildings in Othmarsingen. The year 1534 is inscribed above the door to the mill room. The Gasthaus zum Rössli is a late Neoclassical building under comprehensive cantonal protection, with four storeys and a shallow-pitched hipped roof. The burgher house, mill and inn each have their own architectural character.

Historical context

Historically, Othmarsingen belonged to the Bernese Aargau and lay on the border with the Freie Ämter and the County of Baden. The Bernese introduced the Reformation in the village in 1528. Passing troops devastated the village during the Peasants’ War of 1653 and the Second War of Villmergen in 1712. Othmarsingen has belonged to the canton of Aargau since 1803. These periods should be distinguished when placing events in context: the Reformation took place while the village was under Bernese rule, while its affiliation with the canton of Aargau began in 1803.

A floodplain landscape on the Bünz

The 51-hectare Bünzaue lies between Othmarsingen and Möriken. It formed after the flood of May 1999, when the Bünz shaped its valley into a floodplain landscape with high morphological dynamism. Unlike the historic buildings, the focus here is on the development of a river landscape. If you are weighing up nature and local history as different interests, the Bünzaue offers a distinct focus for your trip planning.

Starting point of the Freiämterweg

For hiking trips, the Freiämterweg begins in Othmarsingen. The entire route covers around 190 kilometres and consists of three interconnected routes: the Valley Route, the Mountain Route and the Eastern Route. Shortly after Othmarsingen, the Eastern Route branches off from the Valley Route. The total length and the local route are two different aspects to consider when planning: the Freiämterweg as a whole covers around 190 kilometres, while its connection to Othmarsingen is at the starting point and the junction shortly afterwards. This makes it possible to consider the start of the route and the distinctive route connection at Othmarsingen separately.

Railway history

The railway station is also part of the local history: it opened on 6 September 1877 on the Zofingen–Wettingen railway line. This adds a historic transport building to the churches, homes and mills.

Discover more destinations: Holderbank, Möriken-Wildegg, Rupperswil, Seengen, Hunzenschwil, Lenzburg, Meisterschwanden

Return to the main travel overview: Lenzburg.