Discover Signau

Signau is a municipality in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. When looking for a hotel, it is worth exploring the different aspects of the town and its surroundings: historic buildings, a pilgrimage hike, and routes through the hilly Emmental landscape. You can choose your destination based on whether you are most interested in local history, hiking, or excursions in the region.

Bridge, church, and local history

The Schüpbach Bridge is a timber arch structure without piers, built in 1839, and it still carries traffic to Langnau today. Its construction can be seen in two features: the arch is made of wood, and there are no piers. At the same time, the bridge continues to serve a practical purpose for traffic to Langnau. It thus combines a historic structure with present-day transport to Langnau.

Signau’s church also reflects several historical periods. A church already stood at the present site during the Romanesque period, in the 13th or 14th century. The church’s current appearance largely dates from the renovations of 1850. This distinguishes the early presence of a church at the site from the appearance shaped by the later renovations.

Signau’s municipal coat of arms has been documented since 1674. Its heraldic history is connected with the Lords of Signau and the former Landvogtei and district. Another landmark in the town’s history is its historic centre, which is worthy of preservation: in 1976, it was included in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Importance. A memorial stone commemorates four soldiers who died in Signau’s church after being interned there.

Pilgrimage routes and guided exploration

The pilgrimage hike from Signau via Chuderhüsi and Würzbrunnen to Röthenbach i. E. is 16.6 kilometres long and rated moderate. On the way from Signau to Würzbrunnen, the pilgrimage route follows a panoramic path that has been used since the early Middle Ages. The hike thus links a set sequence of places with a long history as a route. Check seasonal access details before setting out.

You can reach the pilgrimage hike by train to Signau. For the return journey, buses on route 271 run from Röthenbach i. E., Dorf, or Röthenbach i. E., Chuderhüsi. Check the current timetable before your tour so you can include the return journey in your plans. A guided tour exploring Signau takes about one to one and a half hours. As tour arrangements may change, confirm the details in advance.

Hiking, cycling, and excursions in the surrounding area

The area around Signau in the Emmental is characterized by a hilly landscape, green pastures, and forests. The viewpoints of the Upper Emmental can be reached on foot from Signau via a dense network of well-marked hiking trails. If you are on foot, you can choose individual viewpoints as your destination; conditions on the various trails may change and should be checked before you set out.

For cycling trips, the quiet roads and tracks with little traffic around Signau are a good option. If you would rather visit different places in the area, you will find a historic town centre, old castle ruins, and the Änzeloch gorge. These destinations complement the hiking and cycling options with visits focused on local character and landscape.

In the wider region around Signau, you can see 18 wooden bridges along a route of about 23 kilometres. The well-signposted route can be travelled by bicycle or on foot. The approximate 23-kilometre distance and the two stated ways of getting around give you concrete points of reference for planning. By comparison, the pilgrimage hike is shorter at 16.6 kilometres; its route via Chuderhüsi and Würzbrunnen and its moderate difficulty are also specified. This lets you compare the two tours by length, route, and mode of travel.

Discover more destinations: Trubschachen, Rüderswil, Lauperswil, Schangnau, Eggiwil, Zollbrück, Röthenbach Im Emmental, Oberfrittenbach.

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