Rüegsbach: Church, Kleeb Mill and Emmental Trails

Rüegsbach combines ecclesiastical architectural history with a milling tradition dating back to the 19th century and trails through the rolling hills of the Emmental. When choosing a hotel, it is therefore worth considering whether you would like to focus your stay on local history, a hike or an e-bike tour.

Church and sacred architectural history

The small Reformed church was built in the 15th century as a chapel affiliated with Rüegsau Convent. Its rectangular nave forms the basic shape of the building; a Baroque porch and an elegant roof turret define its exterior. The nave, porch and roof turret each give the building a distinct architectural accent.

Inside are a Late Gothic wooden ceiling and carved friezes dating from around 1500. The stained-glass windows by Leo Steck date from 1935. The church thus brings together features from different periods: its beginnings as an affiliated chapel, its Late Gothic interior and its later windows.

The Chapel of St. Blaise in the district of Rüegsbach is a separate building. Its bells are among the oldest in Switzerland and date from the 12th and 13th centuries. The two churches thus offer different points of reference for the local history of sacred architecture.

Kleeb Mill and e-bike loop

Flour has been produced at Kleeb Mill since 1840. This long tradition of production links the name of the village with a specific historic business. The historic mill is also the main destination on an e-bike loop from Burgdorf that crosses the rolling hills of the Emmental. On the return journey from Rüegsbach, the route follows a flat stretch along the Emme back to Burgdorf. The destination and return route therefore have different features: the mill is the focus of the tour, while the return is described as a flat riverside section.

Hiking and getting around

The hiking loops start in Rüegsbach Dorf and follow the official hiking trail network. They are generally wide and well maintained. The hiking loops therefore differ from the outset from the e-bike loop that leads from Burgdorf to Kleeb Mill. If you plan to explore on foot, check trail conditions and any closures before setting off.

Rüegsbach and the course of the stream

The Rüegsbach is a stream about nine kilometres long in the Emmental region of the canton of Bern and a left-bank tributary of the Emme. It rises in Affoltern im Emmental at an elevation of around 766 metres above sea level and flows into the Emme in the Wintersei area at 561 metres above sea level. The length refers to the stream’s course, while the elevations refer to its source and mouth.

Rüegsbach is a village in the municipality of Rüegsau. Starting from the Emme and following the Rüegsbach, the municipality includes the villages of Rüegsauschachen, Rüegsau, Rüegsbach and Rinderbach, as well as several hamlets. The municipality of Rüegsau as a whole extends from the banks of the Emme at 560 metres above sea level to Höchi above Vorderer Almisberg at 841 metres above sea level. This distinction helps differentiate the name of the village of Rüegsbach from that of the municipality of Rüegsau.

The covered timber arch bridge over the Emme is also a structure in the municipality’s vicinity: between the municipalities of Hasle and Rüegsau, it crosses the river at Rüegsau. The bridge was built in 1839.

Discover more destinations: Eriswil, Walterswil, Wyssachen, Lützelflüh, Sumiswald, Trachselwald, Dürrenroth, Huttwil

Go to the parent travel overview: Trachselwald.