Kerzers combines an unusual railway crossing with tropical nature, trails through the vegetable-growing region of Seeland and historic buildings. So when planning your trip, it’s worth asking a simple question: should your stay focus mainly on nature and agriculture, railway history, or a mix of both?
Nature experiences at Papiliorama
Inside Papiliorama’s several domes, the climate is tropical. More than 60 butterfly species from all continents live in a tropical environment there. At Nocturama, you can observe nocturnal animals, including night monkeys, sloths, aardvarks and porcupines. The Jungle Trek leads through a real rainforest; a seven-metre-high bridge runs through the treetops. Papiliorama also has a small petting zoo and a large nature and water playground.
The different areas each have their own focus: butterflies, nocturnal animals and rainforest habitats sit alongside play and animal encounters. The Papiliorama Foundation aims to raise awareness among a broad audience about the plight of tropical forests and biodiversity by immersing visitors in this habitat. The nature theme therefore goes beyond observing individual animals.
Vegetable trail and pick-your-own garden
The vegetable trail starts at Kerzers railway station and offers suggested routes of 25 and 45 kilometres. Along the way, you can discover more than 60 different types of vegetables; information boards explain the crops grown in Seeland. The route follows well-signposted, low-traffic country lanes. Railway stations along the trail let you choose how far to walk. The two suggested routes and the option to vary the distance covered give you different ways to plan your visit.
For a different perspective on vegetable growing and gardening, visit “Pflück dis Glück”, a pick-your-own garden in Kerzers. The site includes extensive berry, vegetable and fruit plots, as well as herb, flower and rose gardens. Visitors can pick their own berries and flowers, collect freshly laid eggs, feed free-range chickens and take eggs straight from the nests. For a refreshing treat or an extra snack, there’s “Burehofglace” from the Märithüsli and freshly picked strawberries.
The “The Swiss vegetable land” hike runs from Kerzers railway station along the Biberabach stream to Gempenach. It can be reached by train and bus via Kerzers/Chiètres station. If you’re considering another route, the “Kerzers Circular Hike” takes you through forests and villages and along quiet country lanes; this hike can also be reached by train and bus via Kerzers station.
Railway crossing and local history
Kerzers has Switzerland’s only standard-gauge railway crossing. The Lyss–Payerne and Bern–Neuchâtel railway lines cross here: two main railway lines meet at an acute angle of 30 degrees. The museum signal box at the station was built and commissioned in 1901. Its building is well preserved; in 2003, the signal box was placed under federal protection. The outdoor area is open to the public. During guided tours, visitors can operate the demonstrated signalling equipment themselves. If you’re planning a tour, it’s best to check current booking options in advance.
The station complex is also part of railway history: it has been included in the inventory of regional railway stations of national importance. The pedestrian footbridge is a delicate steel structure dating from 1901. If you’d like to shift your focus from railway technology to the area’s older history, one place to explore is the elevated, ring-shaped churchyard. At its centre stands the parish church, with a medieval core and a chancel dating from 1512; it was built on a pre-Christian place of worship. In Roman times, Kerzers lay on the important road from Aventicum to Salodurum, and the village adopted the Reformation in 1530. Kerzers has been continuously inhabited since the Rhone Glacier retreated from the Swiss Plateau around 10,000 years ago.
For culture and social gatherings, Kulturkeller Gerbestock is a regional meeting place with a changing programme. Sporting routes offer their own highlights: the 15-kilometre Kerzerslauf route passes through forest, along the lakeshore, through a nature reserve, and through Kerzers and nearby villages. As route details may change, it’s advisable to check the current route. Kerzers swimming pool is accessible to people with reduced mobility; check the latest access information before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Muntelier, Murten, Villarepos, Wallenried, Haut-Vully, Greng, Bas-Vully, Ried Bei Kerzers.
See the main travel overview: See/Lac.
