Discover churches, trails and nature in Lengnau

Lengnau, also known as Lengnau bei Biel and Longeau in French, is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district of the canton of Bern. The town’s history goes back a long way, and there are various trails where you can explore Lengnau and its surroundings on foot.

Historical traces and the Reformed Church

The region around Lengnau was inhabited as far back as the Stone Age. A short section of Roman wall, discovered during excavations for the water reservoir at the Lochbach spring, points to settlement during Roman times. In 997, Lampertus donated a piece of land in Lengnau to Einsiedeln Abbey. In 1228, the town was mentioned under the name “Lengieuwa” in connection with a church or chapel dedicated to Saint Germanus.

The Reformed Church and rectory stand on a terrace slightly elevated above the village centre. Below lies the Lehnmühle, a mill granted as a fief. The church’s history dates back to a Romanesque chapel from 1318. Between 1630 and 1644/45, the Reformed Church, formerly St. Germanus, was renovated and extended to the west.

A small, single bell cast in 1666 has been preserved in the church tower. It can still be used today as a bell signal for community meetings. It is considered likely that this was its original purpose. The church thus provides a tangible point of reference for the different historical layers of Lengnau’s past.

Trails through the village and forest

The Lengnau Gschichtli-Wäg follows the village stream and the Moosbach. It starts at the upper end of the village stream, west of the Moos sports ground, and ends at the Moosbach before the railway underpass. Ten boards with QR codes line the trail; the stories can be accessed and listened to free of charge. Along the route, both the streams and the stories on the boards take centre stage.

“Murmeltier Luzzi: Verirrt!” offers a different kind of trail. This adventure trail is 3.2 kilometres long, forms a circular route and has no major climbs. Eight stations feature challenges and puzzles. The letters collected along the way spell a solution word, which can be used to earn an orientation expert diploma. The trail starts at the “Alter Zelgweg” car park; a smartphone app guides you from one adventure to the next. As app availability may be subject to local updates, it is worth checking shortly before your visit.

The Wurzelweg leads through the Lengnau forest: the trail passes over roots, by streams and natural ponds, and across small wooden bridges. Along the way, you’ll find water features, a sound installation and a tree-trunk locomotive. The trail starts at the forestry administration and is well signposted. Unlike the two themed adventure trails, this route focuses on the succession of forest and nature features along the way.

The Leugene and its surroundings

The Leugene is a typical Swiss Plateau watercourse, around eight kilometres long. The local recreation area offers pleasant walking paths along the water, making easy circular hikes, bike rides and short mountain-bike tours possible. The Leugene is also a habitat for amphibians, reptiles, dragonflies, butterflies and numerous wild plants. Its combination of water, natural surroundings and trails sets this area apart from the individual themed routes in the village and forest.

Plan your journey and stay

Lengnau is connected to the public rail and bus network. The SBB railway station in the village offers services every half hour to Biel, Bern, Zurich and Grenchen. Check the timetable for your travel date if you plan to arrive by train. This makes it possible to take the different places and trail themes into account when choosing your stay in Lengnau, without treating the individual routes as interchangeable.

The Kleinfeld indoor swimming pool is also open to the public; the pool is 20 metres long. Regio-beck is a bakery, confectionery and café in Lengnau. These local amenities are further aspects to consider when planning your trip, alongside the town’s history, trails and natural surroundings.

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Go to the main travel overview: Bern.