In Oberwil Im Simmental, traces of human history span from prehistoric caves to the Mauritius Church, with its long history of construction. There are also practical ways to explore the surrounding area on foot or by e-bike. The different route details can help with your planning: a starting point, approximate duration or trail conditions make individual outings easier to assess.
Caves and Early Settlement
The caves in Gsässfluh are considered evidence of the earliest settlement in the municipality. Schnurenloch and Mamilchloch are among the caves mentioned; they were used as human summer dwellings around 10,000 to 20,000 years before Christ. This broad timespan gives a general sense of when they were first used.
The cave trail leads from Oberwil station or the cave trail parking lot into the rocky Gsässgrind area. Zwärgliloch, Schnurenloch and Mamilchloch are located there. The circular hike from the cave parking lot takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Oberwil Simmental Tourism also offers guided tours with stories about the caves. If you would like to plan a guided tour, check current availability in advance.
Mauritius Church and Historic Inn
The church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was presumably founded by the Barons of Weissenburg. It first appears under the name Berswil in the 1228 church register of the Diocese of Lausanne. It was built in the 13th century as a small late Romanesque hall church with a choir. The tower, nave and sacristy date from the 14th and early 15th centuries. Fragments of extensive wall paintings from before the Reformation have been preserved inside. The different construction phases and the paintings give the church several points of historical interest.
The Hirschen inn is also part of the town's history: it was first mentioned in a document in 1793 and served as a packhorse inn between Weissenburg and Boltigen. The inn is no longer in operation.
Terrace, Valley and Trails
Oberwil lies on a sunny terrace about 100 metres above the shaded valley floor, through which the Simme flows. The south-facing slopes above the town remain snow-free far up the mountainside. The elevated position above the valley and the orientation of the slopes are two distinctive features of the landscape.
The Leiternweide suspension bridge is 111 metres long; the Morgetenbach flows through the gorge 111 metres beneath it. The Oberwil–Alp Morgete–Oberwil e-bike tour passes by the bridge and starts at Oberwil station. A break at the Morgete alpine restaurant is planned before the return trip. Check in advance whether it will be open on the date of your visit.
For a hike, the Simmental House Trail is an option. It follows partly paved roads with little traffic as well as unpaved paths, and is marked with brown signposts. You can take the different trail surfaces and the marked route into account when planning your trip.
Cross-country skiing in winter
The Rossberg cross-country ski trail is accessible by train to Oberwil; there is no ski bus. Part of the trail is lit, making it possible to cross-country ski there in the evening. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel date. The activities described offer distinct options: the cave trail and House Trail are for walking, the route to Alp Morgete is an e-bike tour, and part of the ski trail offers evening cross-country skiing.
Discover more destinations: Weissenburg, Erlenbach Im Simmental, Därstetten, Spiez, Faulensee, Niederstocken, Horboden, Oey.
Return to the main travel overview: Niedersimmental.
