Aarau Attractions

This annual day-long festival is based on an ancient custom and has proven popular over the years. The festival usually takes place on the second Friday in September.

Bachfischet means the catching of the fish before the annual cleaning of the stream. The whole community joins in the catch and then sits down for a massive feast, complete with music and dancing.

The art gallery in Aarau has a number of interesting paintings on display.

The city museum in Aarau has information on the town.

The well-preserved old town of Aurau, built on a prominent rocky hill above the Aare, has many gabled houses with carved decoration (ornamental and figured) on the roofs and painted shingle fronts. The Rore tower (1240) is the oldest part of the Rathaus (Town Hall), which was enlarged about 1520 and remodeled in Baroque style in 1762. The Late Gothic parish church (Stadtkirche: Protestant), a pillared basilica, was built in 1471-78. Both these buildings are in the Halde, the best-preserved old street in the canton, with houses ranging in date from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Here, too, is the Upper Tower (Oberer Turm, 1270). Its clock dates from 1532 and still strikes daily. On the south side of the tower is the painting "Dance of Death" by Felix Hoffman. The Schlössli was originally a castle keep (11th century). The Grossratsgebäude, seat of the cantonal parliament, is the finest Neo-classical building in Aargau (1826-28). From the new bridge over the Aare (Neue Aarebrücke,1949) there is a fine view of the old town. Also of interest are the Municipal Museum (Stadtmuseum Alt-Aarau) in the castle (opening hours given), the Art Gallery, the Aargau Museum of Nature and local interest and the Crime Museum, opened in 1992.

The natural history museum in Aarau has interesting displays of a naturalistic sort.

The police museum in Aarau is of interest to people who enjoy the battle against crime.

5.5km/3mi downstream from Wildegg we come to Bad Schinznach (alt. 355m/1,165ft), an elegant spa established in 1694 (closed in winter), with sulfurous water (34° C-93° F) which is effective in the treatment of rheumatism and metabolic disorders; beautiful park (restaurant) and golf course.

Beyond Bad Schinznach, on the left, a steep narrow road ascends (2.5km/2mi) to the ruins of the Habsburg (alt. 513m/1,683ft: inn), on the Wülpelsberg. The castle, built about 1020 was in the 12th and 13th centuries the seat of the Counts of Habsburg, one of whom, Rudolf III, was elected King of Germany in 1273 and thus became the founder of the Imperial dynasty of Habsburg. From the 24m/79ft-high tower there are superb views. The castle can also be reached from Brugg on a steep and not very good road (3.5km/2mi).

Between 1853 and 1883, the town transformed into a farming community. An annual two-day festival takes place in early October.

The Saurier Museum in Frick is a dinosaur museum with a complete Plateosaur skeleton plus other skeleton parts, fossils and minerals.

The village museum in Gränichen is housed in the parish hall. There are archaeological discoveries dating from the Neolithic period.

1km/ 0.6mi northeast of Boniswil on the north bank of the lake stands Schloss Hallwil (ninth-16th C. Museum; local collection). Countess Wilhelmine von Hallwyl had the moated castle restored at the beginning of the 20th C. with important items going to the Landesmuseum in Zürich, where they are now on display.

The Icon Museum in Kolliken is open on the first Sunday of the month.

The small town of Kolliken, just south of Aarau has a straw house and village museum and an icon museum.

Mellingen was a medieval town with numerous finds from the Middle Stone Age and the Neolithic period. The clock tower on the west side of Mellingen features a historical collection.

The Village Museum in Möhlin features crafts and traditions of the region as well as the history of locals and industrial opportunities.

Church treasures from the 17-19th C and paintings by local artist Caspar Wolf (1735-1783) are seen in the Klostermuseum.

The museum in Oeschgen features an overview and insight into the world of two-and three-wheel vehicles.

The town of Rothrist, just south of Olten, has a local museum.

The Village Museum in Rupperswil is housed in an old restored farmhouse. Displays include photos, crafts, and household items.

The town of Seon, near Villmergen, has an interesting and informative local museum. The museum contains information on the town and its colorful history.

The town of Suhr south of Buchs has a local museum.

Tegerfelden is a small town, near the German border.

Straw crafts are exhibited including dozens of hats plus a millinery demonstration.

Key works of the artist and natural healer Emma Kunz.