Discover Madiswil

Madiswil brings together an annual autumn event, cultural history, and options for hiking and cycling. Which of these aspects shapes your stay depends mainly on when you travel and the subjects that interest you. For accommodation, the Landgasthof Bären is a specific option, with hotel rooms available.

Rüebenchilbi: an annual event

The Rüebenchilbi takes place every year from Friday to Sunday on the last weekend in October. Sunday features a traditional Chilbi market, which begins at 9:30 a.m. For the past few years, a children’s Räbeliechtli lantern procession has also been part of the event on Saturday evening. The different activities are spread across the weekend: the market is scheduled for Sunday, and the procession for Saturday evening. If you are planning your trip around the Rüebenchilbi, check the exact dates and the current programme for your chosen year.

Wässermatten and hiking trails

The Wässermatten in the Oberaargau preserve the cooperative cultural practice of irrigating and fertilising meadows, once widespread in the Swiss Plateau. Their history goes back a long way: the practice can be traced back to the 9th century. Madiswil is one of the places associated with this landscape. In 1983, the Wässermatten were included in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance as BLN site 1312. This makes both a historic form of land management and the landscape’s official classification central to this topic.

The Linksmähder Trail is a historic circular walk through Madiswil. Signs along the route explain the places of interest and give the walk a local focus. Guided tours can be organised for groups; arrange this before your arrival. For a hike with specific information on distance and difficulty, there is also the Melchnau–Hochwacht–Madiswil route: it is about 8.5 kilometres long and rated moderate. The outward journey is by bus from Langenthal to Melchnau, and the return journey by train from Madiswil to Langenthal. Check the timetables for your travel date.

Madiswil and its surroundings offer walks and hikes ranging from easy circular routes to more challenging outings. These provide different ways to explore the area: a historic walk with explanatory signs, a hike with a stated distance and difficulty rating, and other trails with varying levels of challenge.

Church, village forge, and Gutenburg

Madiswil’s Reformed church was built in 1779, following six earlier buildings on the site. Its furnishings include a walnut pulpit and a marble baptismal font. Its stained-glass windows, with 16 scenes and symbols, are also distinctive: their themes range from Creation to the Evangelists. The windows were designed by stained-glass artist Max Brunner. The building’s history, materials, and imagery offer several specific ways to explore the town’s cultural heritage.

The Alte Dorfschmitte tells a different story of local history. The Madiswil master blacksmith and honorary citizen Jakob Käser (1884–1969) lived, worked, and wrote poetry there. He wrote stories and poems in a distinctive Oberaargau dialect. Books associated with the village forge include “Oberaargauerlüt” and “wenn der Hammer ruht”; here, the history of a craft is also encountered as literary history.

In the 12th century, St. Gallen Abbey built a defensive tower on the Turmhubel in Gutenburg, which was later expanded into a castle. By 1662, the castle was already in ruins. This sequence—from defensive tower to expanded castle to ruin—adds another historical focus to the history of the village and its church.

Bike tours and hotel accommodation

The specially developed 16er-Linden bike routes lead to four lime trees in Gutenburg, Kleindietwil, Leimiswil, and Madiswil. They combine cycling with nature, history, and exercise. They also highlight the significance of the lime trees, planted since 1988 as a living memorial to the regiment. The routes are suitable for all cyclists. In contrast to the historical themes of the Linksmähder Trail, they offer a different focus: exploring local history by cycling to the lime trees.

The Landgasthof Bären is housed in a historic timber-framed building and has eleven hotel rooms for overnight stays. Its wine cellar dates back to 1646 and is used for aperitifs or tastings accompanied by food. The inn serves seasonal dishes, mostly prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. When choosing Madiswil as your destination, you can weigh up the event, the cultural and historical attractions, and the hiking or biking options. Check hotel room availability for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Leimiswil, Bannwil, Obersteckholz, Langenthal, Rohrbach, Gondiswil, Aarwangen, Auswil.

Back to the main travel overview: Aarwangen.