From the Hasenberg Tower, the view stretches from Eastern Switzerland across Central Switzerland to the Bernese Alps. Widen is a municipality in the canton of Aargau and the district of Bremgarten, immediately north of the Mutschellen Pass. The sweeping view is a tangible reason to consider Widen as a travel destination; the history of the place name offers another way to discover the area.
Widen and the History of Its Name
The phrase “quod dicitur in Wida” is described as the first recorded mention of the field name from which the place name Widen later developed. The forms “Widen” and “Wyden” have been documented since around the middle of the 14th century. This makes it possible to distinguish two stages in the name’s history: the early mention of the field name and the later documented spellings of the place name.
Views and Trails on the Hasenberg
The Hasenberg Tower stands at the entrance to the Hasenberg/Heitersberg recreational area. It is located in the municipality of Widen, 200 metres beyond the Haus Morgenstern Foundation in the direction of Egelsee. From here, the view extends into the Limmat Valley, to the city of Zurich, and across Eastern and Central Switzerland to the Bernese Alps. The panorama thus includes both named places and a sweeping view of the Alps.
There is a barbecue area, benches and a fountain at the Hasenberg Tower. At the Haus Morgenstern Foundation, you will find a small animal garden and a playground for children; there is also a cafeteria for light refreshments. A panoramic hiking trail also runs along the Hasenberg in the direction of Bellikon. Near the tower, the Bellikon Nature and Bird Association has a forest nature trail. The tower offers views, the panoramic hiking trail is for a hike towards Bellikon, and the forest nature trail provides nature education.
Gyrenweiher as a Natural Feature
Gyrenweiher is a small lake of around 1.2 hectares in private ownership and the only significant open body of water in the municipality of Widen. It is of local importance as a fish and amphibian pond. Water frogs and alpine newts have been documented in the pond.
Sport and Activity at Burkertsmatt
Burkertsmatt is a regional sports, leisure and community centre that has been in operation since 2011. Its facilities include two beach volleyball courts with nets and court markings. Availability may vary. The athletics facility is generally open to the public, although organised bookings may affect access. It is worth checking the current availability of each facility before your visit.
The pump track is designed as a circuit with rollers and turns for bicycles, skateboards, scooters and inline skates. It offers challenges for all age groups and riding abilities. Use is free and no reservation is required; check before setting out whether these details are still valid. Unlike the beach volleyball courts and athletics facility, this is a course for a range of wheeled sports equipment. This makes it possible to distinguish the activities on offer according to the type of activity.
Regional Trails and Culture
The Freiämterweg is a regional nature and cultural hiking trail established as a circular route in 2004. It runs for 190 kilometres through the natural landscapes of the Freiamt and past reminders of the region’s cultural diversity. A map also shows the Othmarsingen–Widen section of the trail. The regional scope of the Freiämterweg and this named section provide two different levels of orientation: the long trail through the Freiamt and the mapped route with Widen as its endpoint.
The Reformed Church of Widen is another cultural landmark: it is a Reformed church on the Mutschellen and is located within the municipal boundaries of Widen in the canton of Aargau. Together with the history of the place name, it complements the landscape and activity options with a clearly located cultural and historical point of interest.
Discover more destinations: Wohlen, Zufikon, Dottikon, Arni, Niederwil, Villmergen, Berikon, Oberlunkhofen.
See the main travel overview: Bremgarten.
