Obersteckholz and Lake Aspi

If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Obersteckholz, the landscape, lake and local activities can help you tailor your trip to your interests. Obersteckholz is a locality in the political municipality of Langenthal in the canton of Bern. Until 31 December 2020, it was an independent political municipality; on 1 January 2021, it merged with Langenthal. The locality is in the Oberaargau region of the Swiss Plateau. It includes several hamlets around a treeless hill at 571 m above sea level. This means that your plans can focus on both a clear sense of place and a rural landscape.

Landscape and nature at Lake Aspi

Lake Aspi is a small woodland lake in the municipality of Obersteckholz. It was created in a glacial meltwater channel in the late 1980s. Its origins thus link a landform from the Ice Age with a relatively recent history as a lake. The area around Lake Aspi is home to a wide variety of plants and animals; frog and toad mating season is a particular highlight in spring. If nature watching is important to you, this seasonal feature may influence your choice of travel dates. The Aspi–Rickenzopfen area is located in the municipalities of Langenthal and Obersteckholz and is designated as a priority area for nature and landscape conservation in the regional forest plan.

Facilities and fire pits

The municipal regulations for the Lake Aspi recreation area, dated 1 November 2021, list footpaths, a bridge, a shelter, two fire pits, a fountain, tables and seating, a portable toilet, and the car park in Furenwald. Check locally which facilities are available before you arrive. The large fire pit and shelter can be rented for a fee; if you are planning a gathering there, confirm availability in advance. Under the regulations, the smaller, second fire pit is accessible at any time to pedestrians and other visitors. The two fire pits therefore differ in how they can be used: the large one can be rented, while the small one is listed as an accessible option.

Walking directions to the lake

Lake Aspi can be reached from Langenthal railway station via a signposted footpath of about 2 km, or around 20 minutes. These approximate figures refer to the walk from the station. Another set of directions starts at the animal park: shortly after the “Aspiplatz,” a shortcut leads through the forest directly to the lake and is marked as a yellow hiking trail. Signage may change temporarily due to maintenance or diversions. The railway station and animal park are different starting points for these directions, so check which route suits your plans.

Hornussen and the history of Obersteckholz

Local clubs and history offer other ways to explore the area beyond nature at the lake. The Obersteckholz Hornussen Society was founded in 1911. At its so-called “Bähnlihornussen” event, visitors are introduced to the sport of Hornussen, can try their hand as a striker, and then take part in a barbecue. Check that the activity is currently available before booking. Unlike a visit to the lake, this experience focuses on learning about and trying out the sport.

A building at Habcherig 22 in Obersteckholz is classified as “worthy of preservation” in the draft of the 2022 Langenthal building inventory revision. Historical accounts link Obersteckholz with the Barons of Langenstein and the monastery of St. Urban; they cite a donation of the locality to the monastery in 1194. In the 18th and 19th centuries, domestic linen weaving and straw plaiting were part of the agricultural sideline economy in Obersteckholz. These topics range from a classification in the draft building inventory and medieval ties to former ways of earning a living in rural life.

Discover more destinations: Bannwil, Melchnau, Madiswil, Rohrbach, Langenthal, Lotzwil, Auswil, Rohrbachgraben

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