At the entrance to the Diemtigtal, Oey lies on a debris fan deposited by the Chirel over the centuries. The village combines a distinctive landscape setting with themed trails, historic façades and hikes into the valley. Each excursion has its own focus: birdwatching, Simmental carpentry or a longer route along rivers, meadows and forests.
Village character and Simmental architecture
Sälbeze is an example of Simmental carpentry in Oey. Painted façades and elaborate Fraktur inscriptions define the building. The richly carved and painted façades along the Diemtigtal House Trail “Vorderes Tal” also tell stories of times gone by. The themed trail begins at Oey-Diemtigen railway station and is an easy 9.08-kilometre circular route. This makes it possible to combine an interest in architectural heritage with a clearly described hike, without conflating the route with a tour of individual buildings.
The village’s history also includes earlier connections: Oey and Latterbach were once linked by a wooden bridge. Another historical milestone was 1897, when Oey gained a connection to the railway line.
Bird Trail and swifts
The Bird Trail starts and ends at Oey-Diemtigen railway station. The circular route passes through numerous habitats of native bird species and features twelve information boards. The swift colony is less than a 15-minute walk from the station along the Bird Trail. A free visit to the swift tower can be booked on request from May to July. The circular trail and the seasonal visit therefore offer two different ways to explore the birdlife.
Circular routes and a valley hike
The Diemtigtal House Trail “Vorderes Tal” and the Tschuggen Alpine Trail are similar in length: the House Trail is 9.08 kilometres, while the Tschuggen Trail is 10 kilometres. The latter is a circular route from Oey-Diemtigen to Diemtigen and Riedli, with an easy technical difficulty level. Cheese is made along the Tschuggen Alpine Trail in summer; seasonal and weather-related interruptions may occur. Comparing the two trails reveals their different focuses: one is a themed trail with historic façades, while the other is an alpine hike with summer cheese-making.
For a longer route through the valley, take the 15.02-kilometre valley trail from Senggiweid near the Grimmialp in Schwenden to the market square in Oey. It follows the Fildrich and Chirel waterways, passes through forests and meadows, and goes by Blauseeli and the “Gwunderwasser” water playground. Eleven bridges cross the mountain rivers. There are eleven PostBus stops along the route, spaced 20 to 40 minutes apart; they make it possible to shorten the hike.
To reach the start at Senggiweid, take the train to Oey-Diemtigen, then the PostBus to “Schwenden i.D., Grimmialp”, and continue from there on a short walk. Check the timetable for the connection mentioned before setting off. Unlike the circular routes, the valley trail ends in Oey, which should be taken into account when planning the hike.
More things to explore in the Diemtigtal
The themed trails in Diemtigtal Nature Park explore nature, history and living traditions. They are mostly short, easy circular walks and are also suitable for children. Simple mountain restaurants along the hiking trails in the Diemtigtal serve regional specialities—perfect for a break.
Oey also offers an activity with a different focus: the flight school timetofly.ch, based there, offers taster courses, training and further education, as well as various passenger flights. The range of activities may vary. When choosing a holiday apartment in Oey, your planned activities can therefore be a useful guide: a circular route starting at the station, a hike starting higher up in the valley or a seasonal visit each offers a different experience.
Discover more destinations: Horboden, Weissenburg, Faulensee, Niederstocken, Diemtigen, Wimmis, Oberwil Im Simmental, Spiez
View the main travel overview: Niedersimmental.
