Herbligen between village history and landscape

Herbligen is a municipality in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The village centre lies at the exit of the Kiesental valley, where it opens out into the Aaretal valley. If you are looking for a hotel in the Canton of Bern, Herbligen is a destination to consider.

Historic traces in the village

The Baumann-Stock on the main road has retained its historic form, without any external structural alterations. The first school of its kind in the region was located in this building. In the 18th century, there was also a joint school for Brenzikofen and Herbligen on the Helisbühl, attended by 40 to 50 children. The many farmhouses, Stöckli (small farmhouses) and granaries are among Herbligen’s well-preserved historic landmarks. In the building inventory, 13 buildings are classified as worthy of protection and 16 as worthy of preservation. These examples link individual buildings with the village’s broader architectural heritage.

Trail stops and historical context

The 2018 brochure about the Oberdiessbach information trails lists 47 stops and invites visitors to explore them on foot. In the section on church history, the «Wydibühl» community centre in Herbligen is listed as stop K8; K8 is associated with Pietism as well as the established and free churches. Another stop covers the Helisbühl as a presumed Alemannic and possibly Celtic sacrificial site. It is viewed from a seating area on Mattlisbühlstrasse. The information trails thus bring together links to church history and a carefully qualified interpretation of the Helisbühl. The figure 47 refers to the total number of stops on the Oberdiessbach information trails; K8 at Wydibühl and the Helisbühl are two of the stops covered.

Habitats and landscape management

At the edge of the forest above Wydibühl, the «Reptile Castle» provides reptiles and other small creatures with shelter and a habitat. At Gollermattgrabe, there is an open drainage ditch with a wetland habitat. After the land consolidation, new hedges were planted on agricultural land and waterways that had previously been culverted were brought back to the surface. A small stream in Herbligen was landscaped in a natural style. Native shrubs were planted along sections of it, and wildflower grass seed mixes were sown on the slopes without topsoil.

Excursions and getting there

Another scenic spot is Falkenfluh, on the municipal boundary of Herbligen. There is a launch ramp from which hang gliders take off in good weather. Aeschlenalp is another place to visit in the area. From Heimenschwand or Schwarzenegg, it can be reached on foot or by bicycle via forest trails. From there, you can enjoy views of the Aaretal and Lake Thun, as well as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in clear weather.

The Oberdiessbach–Münsingen PostBus route stops at Herbligen-Dorf. Check the timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Linden, Aeschlen, Kiesen, Münsingen, Walkringen, Oberdiessbach, Konolfingen, Oberhünigen

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