Aarau and Baden (1/2/1982)

Saturday, January 2, 1982

Went out to go sightseeing and saw that all the shops were closed. I then remembered that January 2 is a holiday in Switzerland: Berchtoldstag/St Berchtold’s Day, a public holiday in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Passed the Bata shoe store and was reminded that it was founded in Czechoslovakia.

Train day pass

Caught the 11:09 train towards Zürich and got off at Aarau at 12:00. Took Bahnhofstrasse, right on Vordere Vorstadt, through the Obere Turm/Upper Tower (13C with a 1532 clock) to Rathausgasse/City Hall Lane.

Obere Turm/Upper Tower on Vorstadtstrasse

Building in Rathausplatz/Town Hall Square

Wandered through the narrow streets of the old town known for the painted gables and wrought-iron signs.

Painted gable and wrought-iron sign

Painted gables

There were also a few frescoed façades. The rooftops were made of dark rounded tiles.

Painted gables

Detoured down Kirchgasse to the white Stadtkirche/City Church (1471-1478).

Stadtkirche/City Church

Looked out beyond the church to the town and rolling hills.

In the valley you could see the cooling tower of the Gösgen nuclear power plant.

View from Aarau with cooling tower

Saw the Gerechtskeitbrunnen/Justice Fountain (1634).

Gerechtskeitbrunnen/Justice Fountain

Aarau police car

Took Zollrain Strasse to the bridge crossing the Aare River.

Aarau power plant

Looking back at Aarau

Saw a working water wheel.

Water wheel

Behind it was the Schlössli/Little Castle (13C) with a wooden bridge leading to a terrace behind it. The castle museum was closed today.

Small castle

Aarau side street

Returned to the train station for the 13:07 train towards Zürich, getting off in Baden. The Baden station was also connected to an underground shopping mall. It had a terrace overlooking the Limmat River.

View overlooking the Limmat River

I followed Badstrasse to the old town. Up on the hill to the right you could see the ruins of Schloss Stein/Stone Castle (1658-70). Walked under an impressive medieval Stadtturm/City Clock Tower (15C).

Stadtturm/City Clock Tower

Reformierte Kirche/Reformed Church

The Stadtpfarrkirche Maria Himmelfahrt/City Parish Church of the Assumption (15C) had a glazed tile roof on the tower.

Stadtpfarrkirche/City Parish Church

The area behind the church was quaint and I wound my way down the hill to the wooden covered bridge (replaced 1810).

Street behind the church

View of Schloss Stein/Stone Castle on the hill

Heading towards the wooden covered bridge

Wooden covered bridge

Looking back at the old town

Aarau general view

Went across to the Landvogteischloss/Bailiff’s Castle (15C), which was a museum, also closed. Behind this castle was a bare rock cliff. Went to cross back on the highway bridge, and noticed a sign pointing to Wettingen. Since it was such a nice sunny day, I decided to walk to the Wettingen Kloster/Abbey (13-17C). Of course, it was on the other side of the neighboring town. After a half hour I found the train station, and a map showed me that the Kloster was behind the station. Took an underground passage towards the Kloster, to find it is only open March to October! The buildings were whitewashed with red tile roofs and an onion-domed clock tower.

Wettingen Abbey

Behind the Kloster was a park with a duck pond.

Duck pond

Returned to the Wettingen train station for the 14:51 train to Baden. I walked over to the spa area of town. Baden/Baths is known for its 19 sulfur springs specializing in the treatment of rheumatism and respiratory disorders. All you see are hotels and a sign proclaiming “Silence - Cure Area. ”

Took the 15:29 train to Biel and arrived home about 17:30.