Krauchthal shows how sandstone shapes the landscape and local history: the Krauchthal Museum offers guided tours at the museum and along the sandstone trail, as well as combined visits to both. The topic also comes to life in a striking rocky landscape in the Chrüzflue–Brächerflue nature reserve. The church and Thorberg add perspectives from different historical periods.
A municipality with varied landscapes
Krauchthal is a municipality in the Emmental administrative district of the Canton of Bern. It includes the localities of Krauchthal, with Hub and Dieterswald, and Hettiswil, with Grauenstein and Hängelen. The municipality lies in the pre-Alpine region in the valley of the Krauchtalbach stream and provides access to the Emmental from the north. Krauchthal and Hub lie in a narrow east–west valley; Dieterswald is situated on a gently sloping plateau. Hettiswil lies to the north in gently rolling terrain, with unobstructed views across the Bernese Mittelland to the southern foothills of the Jura. Krauchthal is located almost exactly halfway between the cities of Bern and Burgdorf.
The Chrüzflue–Brächerflue nature reserve lies on the edge of the village of Krauchthal. Molasse rock formations are framed by a pine forest; the reserve also includes species-rich dry grassland and diverse insect life. It provides a particularly suitable, undisturbed habitat for cliff-nesting birds. The sandstone crag known as Kreuzfluh rises a good hundred metres above the valley floor. From the pavilion, built in 1929, views extend over the village and into the valleys, across the Mittelland towards the Jura.
Sandstone trail and hiking routes
A 2.5-kilometre hiking trail runs through the Chrüzflue–Brächerflue nature reserve. One of its attractions is a stone guestbook carved using traditional stonemason’s tools. Those interested in sandstone can explore the subject both in the museum and along the trail; the museum offers guided tours at both locations and combined visits.
Another museum tour has the chronological title “How a Monastery Became a Prison.” It complements the sandstone offerings with the history of the place. The Thorberg Trail also offers different options: the main trail is 13 kilometres long with 500 metres of elevation gain; the short trail covers 5 kilometres with 150 metres of elevation gain. There is also a walking trail. The main and short trails can be compared by their stated distances and elevation gains, without treating the routes as equivalent.
Church and Thorberg: architecture and history
Krauchthal Church was built in 1793/94 as a late Baroque church under the direction of Ludwig Emanuel Zehender and is flanked by two wooden arcades. A three-storey tower stands centrally on the west façade, flanked by two-storey wooden arcades dating from 1797. The baptismal font, pews and organ gallery date from the time the church was built.
The Thorberg complex originated as a castle built by the Knights of Thorberg around a thousand years ago. In 1397, the last member of the von Thorberg family bequeathed his estate to the Carthusian Order. Until the collapse of the Ancien RĂ©gime in 1798, Thorberg served as the seat of a bailiff. These events provide a historical framework for the complex, from the medieval castle to the end of Bernese bailiff rule.
Local history of Hettiswil
The Lindenzytli is the landmark of the village of Hettiswil. The original Lindenzytli bell is on display at Hettiswil school; if you specifically want to see it, check the current exhibition status before travelling. The bell weighs 55 kilograms and bears the inscription “AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA” in Gothic lettering. Its striking weight thus connects a specific object with its traditional inscription.
The Cluniac priory of Hettiswil stood nearby, on the site of the Ă–le, from 1107 to 1529. The Wybermahl is another local tradition: it takes place every two years, and admission is reserved for women from Hettiswil. If you would like to include the event in your travel plans, check the current date.
Getting there and planning
The Krauchthal Museum is easily accessible by public transport. If travelling by car, there are plenty of parking spaces at Krauchthal school. In the published “Emmental Sandstone Monuments” route suggestion, the bus journey to Krauchthal goes via Bolligen and Bern; check current connections before travelling.
For planning purposes, you can consider the museum offerings, hiking routes and historical topics separately, or combine them where a combined museum visit is available. The stated distances and elevation gains make the main and short trails easy to compare; the sandstone trail is listed as 2.5 kilometres long.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Kaltacker, Burgdorf, Lyssach, Oberburg, Hasle Bei Burgdorf
Back to the main travel overview: Burgdorf.
