Zimmerwald: Conference history and walks on the Längenberg

Zimmerwald brings together the history of the Zimmerwald Conference, historic buildings and hiking trails on the Längenberg. Before your stay, it’s helpful to decide what you’d like to focus on: would you like to explore the conference history and buildings, or choose one of the routes described here?

Zimmerwald and the conference history

On 5 September 1915, among others, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and Leon Trotsky met on the Längenberg at what became known as the Zimmerwald Conference. The aim of the conference was to organise an international peace initiative and bring together socialist groups with different orientations. The combination of a peace initiative and collaboration gives the event two connected perspectives: a shared political goal and several movements that were to be brought together to pursue it.

Church and architectural heritage

Zimmerwald Church was built between 1697 and 1699. Its three chancel windows feature stained glass by Aloys Balmer from 1905. The same building therefore offers two layers of history to consider: its construction and its stained glass. The window art adds a later artistic accent to the view of the older church.

In the hamlet of Niederhäusern near Zimmerwald, the Ofenhaus-Stöckli was built in 1651; it is a listed monument. Its richly painted infill panels feature spiral tendrils, alongside heraldic lions bearing attributes of the baking trade. The ornamentation and bakers’ symbols give the building a distinctive architectural character. In the Cultural Property Register (as of 2012), the Schlössli is listed as an object of regional value with a local-regional classification.

Hiking trails and route information

The informative Längenberg Farmers’ Trail starts at the church, passes the observatory and the Allmidhölzli barbecue site, then continues to Obermuhlern and back to the church. The walk takes about one and a half to two hours and is also suitable for small children. Ten information boards cover forest management, arable farming, cattle farming, the journey of agricultural products from field to shop shelf, and landscape conservation. The trail thus connects topics related to agricultural work with the journey of the products and the care of the landscape. The observatory is part of the route described here; the observatory itself is not open to the public.

A second route runs from the church via Lisiberg, Chüliwilwald and Undere Wald to Englisberg. It is described as easy and takes about one and a half hours. The route reaches the 973-metre-high Lisiberg, which offers views across the Längenberg to the Gantrisch range and the Bernese High Alps. For planning your time, the estimates overlap at about one and a half hours; only the Farmers’ Trail extends beyond that, to about two hours. The routes differ in what they offer: information boards about agriculture on the one hand, and Lisiberg with its views on the other.

Zimmerwald Church can be reached by postbus from Wabern, Kehrsatz, Köniz or Riggisberg. Check the timetable before travelling, as services may change.

Discover more destinations: Zollikofen, Köniz, Gasel, Wohlen Bei Bern, Lengnau, Bolligen, Muri Bei Bern, Ostermundigen

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