Family trip near Bern – visit to the Sensorium Rüttihubelbad

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Once again, the weather forecasters don’t really know what kind of weather the upcoming weekend will bring, and that’s why you’re looking for an all-weather excursion tip? Perfect – in this case, you’ve come to the right place! Even though we were blessed with the most beautiful February sunshine during our trip to the Sensorium in the Rüttihubelbad, I will show you in this blog post where you can experience an entertaining day regardless of any weather capers.

In the midst of the gentle Emmental hills, you wouldn’t necessarily expect a field of adventure that is completely dedicated to our five senses. seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching; Year after year, the Sensorium Rüttihubelbad near Walkringen pursues the goal of activating the perception of its visitors with its temporary exhibitions. At each of the approximately 80 stations, you can feel, tinker, test or puzzle something. Regardless of whether you are travelling with children, the whole family or as a couple – a detour to the Sensorium is guaranteed to be a stimulating time.

Wanderung Via Trans Swiss Trail ins Rüttihubelbad

The Sensorium can be reached via Walkringen or via Worb Dorf by public transport. Depending on the starting point and weather situation, the excursion can be combined with an entertaining hike along the Trans Swiss Trail. The 488-kilometre-long long-distance hiking trail leads in its 11th stage from Worb to Lützelflüh directly past the Rüttihubelbad. In view of the magnificent weather, we spontaneously decide to overcome the almost 4.5 kilometers from Worb via the Worbberg to Rüttihubelbad on foot instead of by bus.

A good decision! We ascend through the village centre towards the castle and are rewarded above the castle – at the Eggwald – with a first magnificent view towards the Stockhorn chain. For me, this panorama and also the terrain on which we are moving on this day is “home”. I grew up with this scenery and am always blown away by how beautiful it is here. On one side the snow-capped Bernese Alps, on the other side the mystical lime trees so typical of the Emmental.

All-weather excursion for the family – Sensorium Rüttihubelbad

After just under an hour’s walk, we reach the Sensorium in the Rüttihubelbad above the village of Walkringen. In the mid-1980s, the Rüttihubelbad Foundation was founded and sees itself as a place for a variety of encounters. In the hamlet there is a colourful conglomerate of uses – socio-therapeutic forms of housing, retirement and nursing homes, a hotel and restaurant, rooms for cultural events and the sensorium. This year’s exhibition “Touched” opened its doors a few days ago and is dedicated to the absurdity of our modern society. “Please don’t touch it” – who doesn’t know the urge to touch, feel and feel how it feels? For example, I rarely can’t help but feel the table flowers in restaurants to find out whether they are real or artificial plants. It is precisely this curiosity that the Sensorium satisfies with its interactive stations.

Here, among other things, we are challenged to assign different textures in clay pots to specific materials using our sense of touch alone. Or to find the concealed counterpart by touching smooth and rough rock surfaces. At other stations, balance, patience or even a little bit of courage are required. But I won’t give too much away at this point, except that you’re sure to have one or two “aha moments”.

Stop at the Rüttihubelbad restaurant

After two hours of stimulated trial and error, our appetite becomes noticeable. This is also provided for in the sensorium – there is a spacious picnic area in the entrance area. When the weather is nice, there is also outdoor seating as well as a barbecue area. Alternatively, the Rüttihubelbad restaurant one floor up tempts you with an “amächelig” menu. Whenever possible, the products grown in the hotel’s own garden are used for the dishes.

For starters, I tried the very tasty home-pickled salmon trout from the nearby Rubigen fish farm and sautéed tagliatelle with truffled creamed savoy cabbage and beetroot straw for the main course – a really fine winter dish. By the way, the menu also includes a vegan burger, which is served with delicious Bärner fries. A thoroughly worthwhile stop for refreshments. If you are considering a Saturday or Sunday as your excursion day, it is advisable to reserve a table in advance by phone. The Rüttihubelbad restaurant enjoys a good reputation in the Emmental.

On the moss path to Walkringen

The bus stop “Walkringen, Rüttihubelbad” is located directly in front of the restaurant entrance. But the beautiful weather lures us outside once again. From the Sensorium, the signposted “Moss Path” leads cross-country via the Walkringen-Wikartswilmoos to the Walkringen train station in just over 30 minutes. Along the way, information boards reveal lots of exciting facts about Walkringen, the moss landscape and the flora and fauna that live in it. In contrast to the Trans Swiss Trail, the Moss Trail can also be easily mastered with a stroller.

Practical tips for your trip to the Rüttihubelbad

To get to the Sensorium in Rüttihubelbad by public transport, take the train to Worb Dorf or Walkringen, from there take bus no. 791 to “Walkringen, Rüttihubelbad”. The following map shows the route of our short hike from Worb via Rüttihubelbad to Walkringen. The tour includes an ascent of 250 meters over a distance of about 7.5 kilometers. With the exception of a short section on the Worbberg, the trail runs mostly on wide dirt roads and can be easily walked with children or less physically fit people.

The trip to the Sensorium can also be combined with a bike tour. The Heart Route leads north of Rüttihubelbad through the hamlet of Wikartswil. Another option is an additional loop to the Emmental Cheese Route we tested last year.

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The Sensorium is open all year round: 1 April to 31 October, Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Mondays only open 13.4. and 1.6.2020). In the winter months (1 November to 31 March) the opening hours are limited to Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 – 17:30. For adults, single admission costs 18 CHF. Children up to the age of 16 pay half price. For more information and to buy tickets in the BLS webshop, click here: Sensorium Rüttihubelbad

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