Laupen: Castle, Old Town and River Trails

Laupen lies at the confluence of the Sense and Saane rivers, around 25 kilometres from the city of Bern. Its medieval town centre, castle complex and riverside landscape each offer a different focus. If you’re looking for a hotel in Laupen, your travel interests can help you decide: would you like to explore architectural history and museums, spend time by the rivers or plan outdoor activities?

Old Town, Castle and History

The medieval town centre is characterised by covered arcades and houses dating from the 11th century. Laupen Castle is a site of national importance. Its architectural features include a rusticated façade, the late Gothic New Castle, fortifications and historic furnishings. The well-preserved castle hall is also part of the complex, which is open to the public year-round.

The Laupen Castle Museum includes a von Mülinen Room and a wedding room. The coats of arms of the Bernese bailiffs who resided at Laupen Castle hang there. In the Käfigturm, short audio plays feature reenacted court hearings and original texts from church court rulings. The Laupen Farm Museum offers a different historical perspective, presenting rural life from 1750 to 1900.

The Reformed Church can also be explored through its distinctive details. Built in 1734, it features stained-glass windows by Paul Zehnder and Adolf Kreuzer, a carved Renaissance pulpit and an organ with a Baroque design. The church is regularly used for special occasions such as concerts and weddings.

Rivers and Trails

At the Saane-Sense-Spitz natural swimming area, you can swim, build stone cairns, barbecue and sunbathe. There are several options for hiking: you can follow the old Roman road on foot or take a circular route to the old Aare. The Roman Road is an approximately two-hour hike along the Saane, also passing through riparian woodland. Information boards along the way describe events from the past; the route also passes a Roman gallows.

A detour from the Roman Road leads to the Auried nature reserve in the wider surrounding region. Various bird species, among other things, can be spotted there. The route thus combines trails and riverside scenery with historical sites, while the detour adds an opportunity to observe nature.

The riverside path between Laupen and Neuenegg runs along the right-hand side of the Sense, beside the railway line. It has been open again to pedestrians and cyclists since 1 August 2026, and hiking and cycling routes have been rerouted along it. As construction conditions may change, check the latest situation before setting out.

Activities and Local Traditions

The Laupen Adventure Trail is a circular route that combines nature, play and exciting stories. It is designed for families with children and adults. If you’re interested in archery, the Laupen archery hall offers courses for beginners and advanced archers, as well as individual and group training. Indoor archery is available, using various targets and 3D animal targets.

Swimming options also vary: Regio Badi Sense offers swimming courses for children and front crawl courses for adults. At the Saane-Sense-Spitz natural swimming area, the focus is on swimming, building stone cairns, barbecuing and sunbathing. Which activity suits your stay depends on whether you’d prefer to take a course or spend time by the river.

One local tradition is Achetringele. On New Year’s Eve, the sound of bells and cowbells moves from the castle towards the town, led by the procession’s leader. This old custom is still celebrated today with great attention to detail. For theatre performances, the «die Tonne» cellar theatre is at Marktgasse 21, 3177 Laupen, below the church on the left-hand side.

Discover more destinations: Frauenkappelen, Neuenegg, Bern, Niedersimmental, Signau, Aarberg, Schwarzenburg, Oberaargau

Go to the main travel overview: Bern.