Bolken: Inkwil Lake, pile-dwelling history and nature
Accommodation in Bolken
Bolken is a municipality in the Wasseramt District of the Canton of Solothurn. When planning your trip, you can choose from different highlights: nature at Inkwil Lake, pile-dwelling history and a group experience with sheep.
Inkwil Lake and a landscape shaped by the Ice Age
The municipality extends from a formerly marshy plain with Inkwil Lake to the hill of Bolken; the municipality’s highest point is 503 m above sea level. Bolken includes the western part of the lake and half of the island. The moraine landscape in the outer Wasseramt was shaped by the Ice Age Rhone Glacier. The lake also formed during this period: Inkwil Lake is a kettle lake that formed in a hollow around 13,000 years ago as the Rhone Glacier retreated. The plain, hill and hollow represent different features of this landscape.
On the Solothurn side of Inkwil Lake, the lake and its shoreline are designated as a cantonal nature reserve. The reserve is particularly rich in dragonfly species. At the same time, the nature reserve at Inkwil Lake invites visitors to relax and spend time there. Two aspects of nature come together here: how the lake formed and the importance of the protected area for dragonflies.
Pile-dwelling history and on-site information
On the island in Inkwil Lake in Bolken is a pile-dwelling settlement that has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2011. It is the only pile-dwelling site in the region with finds from the Late Bronze Age, dated to 1200–800 BC. The UNESCO listing and the dates of the finds offer two distinct historical points of reference: recognition of the settlement and the dating of the artefacts.
An information board in the municipality of Bolken, near the lake, points to the archaeological site. Visitor information from 2021 states that the site itself is not visible or accessible. Check the local notices before visiting. Another Urzeitenweg trail board covers hunting and fishing; it is in Bolken on Seestrasse, near Stegmatte on the southwest shore of Inkwil Lake.
Plan group experiences
The Sheep Whisperer experience at Degenmooshof in Bolken is a team-building activity in nature. Participants guide a flock of sheep together. The experience is offered from April to October and lasts around one and a half to two hours. The season and duration help with two different planning questions: when you can schedule the experience and how much time to set aside for it. Confirm the current season and participation arrangements before your trip.
For a different kind of experience, Event Kutsche offers horse-drawn carriages. The two carriages are sprung and can be fully enclosed, offering protection from wind and weather. As vehicle arrangements may change, check the specific features in advance if they are important to your plans.
Discover more destinations: Subingen, Steinhof, Kriegstetten, Biberist, Horriwil, Hersiwil, Luterbach, Aeschi.
Back to the regional travel overview: Wasseramt.
