Magnificent contemporary witnesses
We have put together all information about the three Diemtigtal House Trails for you
The three Diemtigtal House Trails lead you, on hikes of half a day each, to the most gorgeous houses in the Diemtigtal (Diemtig valley). The buildings are a reflection of the successful cattle trade and horse breeding from earlier times and date back to the 16th century.
Get to know the stories and peculiarities of the Diemtigtaler Houses
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Each house has its own story and features structural particularities. The brochure and the new app about the House Trails give you detailed information as you go
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The circular trails each take about half a day or can be combined for a longer e-bike tour
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The Simmentaler carpenter’s art ranks on the cantonal Inventory of Living Traditions because this traditional style is still used nowadays when new chalets are built. Reason enough to discover the Diemtigtal House Trails
To make sure the app works well during the walk the following is necessary
Some functions must be activated and allowed on your mobile phone to ensure you’ll have the newest content on your device and everything works fine along the way:
- Bluetooth
- Notifications
- Location settings
Download the App here:
Henri Louis Wakker Prize
On the way to the most beautiful Simmentaler Houses
The Diemtigtal (Diemtig valley) owes its impressive number of historical buildings to the cooperation between prosperous farmers and talented craftsmen, one of whom was the master carpenter Hans Messerli (1720-1806). The traditional method of construction is still used nowadays when a new house is built in the typical chalet-style. Therefore, traditional carpentry skills are passed on to the next generation. The municipality of Diemtigen was awarded the Henri Louis Wakker Prize for its construction culture and planning in 1986.
The trails
The three House Trails cover a total length of about 30 kilometres. As this would be too long for a single hike, the whole trail has been split into three circular trails, each one taking around 3-3.5 hours. The starting and arrival points are located at PostBus stops, from where the brown signposts showing the House Trails (Hausweg) are well visible. In addition, each house along the trails is inscribed with a brown, numbered plaque. You can find all information about the specific houses in our > brochure about the House Trails or on the app. Those following the whole House Trail on e-bike can mostly ride on side roads with very little traffic (43 km, 1238 m difference in altitude).
Hiking with the app is an added value
Have you ever wondered, while out on a hike, about the history of the buildings you pass along the way? Or who built them many, many years ago? Of course, you can read all this information in the brochure. However, what happens if you don’t have the brochure to hand?
Using the technology of the > Albert Schweitzer-App (in German only), you can access interesting content about the Diemtigtaler House Trails. When the app is open, the relevant information pops up as soon as you are near any of the described buildings. And the app is accessible for all those who don’t have the print brochure with them or who prefer not to use paper.
How to use the app
As soon as you have downloaded the app and chosen the trail, you’ll see the houses. By clicking on a single house, a short description, including its location will appear. More detailed information becomes accessible only when you’re standing close to one of the buildings, and the circle around the little image turns yellow. Click on the arrow at the top right to see an overview of all locations along each trail.
Ensure that your phone battery is charged before starting the hike because the bright screen you’ll need along the hike can drain it. Depending on the age of your device it might even need a fully charged battery in order to last the whole excursion.
Good to know
38 houses
belong to the Diemtigtaler House Trails and are all inscribed with a brown plaque
1986
was the year when the Swiss Heritage Society awarded the municipality of Diemtigen with the Wakker Prize for its far-sighted local planning
our summer sport report shows you which facilities and hiking trails are currently open
