Discover Rothrist

Rothrist is a municipality in Switzerland, in the canton of Aargau and the district of Zofingen. The town lies on the Aare and borders the canton of Solothurn. A range of themes come together here when choosing a destination for your stay: natural forest and floodplain landscapes, the local history museum, and the Stampfi indoor and outdoor swimming pool.

Natural areas between forest and the Aare

The Langholz natural forest reserve covers 23.84 hectares. It was rewetted to restore the moist to wet forest habitats typical of the area for rare animal and plant species. Common toads and dragonflies thrive there. The rewetting highlights the reserve’s focus: the return of moist to wet habitats typical of the area.

The Hölzli Weiher nature reserve covers 94 ares and lies in Hungerzelg between the railway line and the Aare. It includes a ruderal area with a large pond and two pools, bordered by a hedge and the riverside woodland along the Aare. The wildlife is also connected to specific features of the area: reed warblers and moorhens breed there, and beavers are regular visitors. Wall lizards, sand lizards and grass snakes have settled in the area, and numerous dragonfly species are found there.

The Boniger and Längacker floodplain zones are part of the Floodplain Protection Park. They include two wooded islands, a peninsula, a shallow-water zone and gently sloping shores that are exposed at low water. Two reed beds are 80 and 400 metres long; the area also includes a 400-metre-long floodplain strip. The floodplains provide food, resting areas and nesting opportunities for numerous waterbirds and waders. In contrast to the damp forest reserve, the focus here is on the variety of water and shoreline habitats.

Together with the adjacent pond, the Canyon forms a stepping-stone biotope and a connectivity corridor between the railway embankment and the Aare. Beavers have turned the deep ravine into a standing body of water by building two dams. Reed warblers breed at the pond; alpine newts and green frogs are also found there. The term stepping-stone biotope draws attention to ecological connectivity, rather than just the pond as a body of water in its own right.

Local history museum and the history of the town

The Rothrist local history museum explores farming, emigration and industrialisation, and features special exhibitions. It is housed in a farmhouse dating from the 19th century. Historically furnished rooms occupy two floors, while the attic presents the history of Rothrist. One historical interpretation presented at the museum describes the emigration of 1855 as a major exodus: 12 percent of Rothrist’s village population left or were forced to leave.

Niederwil was first mentioned in records in 1242, and Rothrist in 1262. The municipality was renamed from Niederwil to Rothrist with effect from 1 January 1890. Industrial growth is also part of the town’s history: the opening of the Aarburg–Herzogenbuchsee railway line on 16 March 1857 encouraged numerous industrial businesses to settle there and helped the municipality prosper. These events give the industrialisation covered at the museum a specific historical context.

The local history museum is generally open on the first and third Sunday of each month from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. It was closed in July and August 2026. As opening hours can change depending on the season or programme, check the current schedule before visiting.

Leisure, sport and relaxation at Stampfi

The Stampfi swimming complex includes an indoor pool, an outdoor pool and a sauna. This combination allows for a varied programme throughout the year. As a family swimming facility, Stampfi offers numerous opportunities for leisure, sport and relaxation, adding a distinct focus to the nature and cultural attractions.

Discover more destinations: Bottenwil, Roggwil, Kölliken, Zofingen, Safenwil, Staffelbach

Go to the main travel overview: Zofingen.