AARGAU my place Like us on Facebook facebook.com/ I Love Aargau aargau.tourismus Ernst Hagenbuch Kathrin Scholl Heinz Keller CITY GUIDE PRESIDENT SWITZERLAND EXPERT TOWN OF AARAU AARGAU TOURISM SWISS TOURISM For me, Aargau has everything you My canton opens up a number of The greatest possible diversity in a could possibly need just around the perspectives and gives me the chance to small space! Countryside and culture! corner: recreation areas, shopping take part in diverse activities. Basically Caribbean sunsets over Lake Hallwil, possibilities, perfect traffic links and just outside my own front door, I can the expanse of the Freiamt, the rushing a range of cultural opportunities. My indulge myself in culture, nature, sport, of the midland rivers, the proud castles favourite places are: the Seerose lido history and innovation. And in the and fortresses, the beneficial and cura- at Lake Hallwil and the old town of process I meet people who are further tive thermal water, the fine, compact Aarau where I find something new and developing the diversity of Aargau with old towns ... and probably the area exciting every time I am there. joy, passion and expertise. with the most festivals in Switzerland! Aargau – my home! My Aargau – the place to live in and explore! Museums Exhibitions Visitor Centres 6 Top Events Historic 9 Old Towns 3 The Romans Aargau in Aargau Services 10 30 Why Visit Aargau? Action and Fun Castles and Fascinating landscapes, beautiful tourist 26 Fortresses 12 attractions as well as exciting places are all part of the diversity of the canton. Nature and Water 24 As far back as the Roman days, people Food and Drink 14 were settling in Aargau and the Habsburgs Wellness 20 established their family seat here before Hotspots going on to creating their empire. Grand Tour of Switzerland 18 Tour of Aargau 19 2 #aargau 3 Historic Old Towns: Discovering Diversity Event calendar at aargautourismus.ch/ events Culture Vibrant colours and curious shapes unite to create a breathtaking picture; they invite you to pause for a moment to mull things over or find inspiration. On closer inspection, the finer details in the picture reveal the artist’s signature. The story behind the picture is gradually becoming clear. In the room next door, you will be transfixed by a floral interpretation of a work made of blossoms, branches and leaves which is a true joy for both eyes and nose. Enjoy coffee and cake in the museum café and muse on the works of art you have seen, exchanging ideas and mentally making drafts of your own works. At the Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau Encounters When you are out shop- ping, there is always time Heart of for a quick chat with the lady at the market stall who has an exciting new recipe for you to try out. A surprise meeting with friends is fun and the Things May procession in Aarau Night watchman tour, Bremgarten perfect opportunity to catch up on things while The historic old town is still fast asleep but the Customs City Tours you watch the hustle and industrious salesmen are already at their work, Happy sounds resound through the alleyways of the historic Long before the busy market life begins, the night watch- bustle in the streets. setting up their market stalls. Vegetables, fruit, old town, interested spectators line the streets and watch the man, armed with halberd and horn, does his nightly rounds meat, flowers and lots of regional specialities colourful procession of orchestra and festively clad children. through the alleyways and along the walls of the historic old are on offer. Soon the alleyways are full of the Intricate circlets of flowers colourfully shine on the heads and town. The blood-curdling screams of prisoners can be heard on the brilliantly white dresses of the proud schoolchildren. from the dungeon in the city tower and dubious characters delicious scent of fresh herbs, warm bread just Every year, the historic old towns in the canton celebrate one scurry around in the shadows of the night. Many a visitor’s out of the oven and aromatic cheese, tempting festival after another, keeping traditional, unique customs blood runs cold, but the night watchman continues unper- the first visitors to do their weekly shopping. alive and encouraging everyone to join in the festivities. turbed in the light of his lantern, ensuring law and order. 4 #aargau #altstadt 5 Culture: Experiencing the Surprising Landmarks, Bad Zurzach Drilling for Salt The five 17-metre high towers proudly rise from the ground. Up until 1970, people would drill here for salt and it was then that they dis- covered hot spring water. Today, they are landmarks of an important sector of industry in Aargau. There is a good reason why salt used to be counterbalanced by gold. Whether in nature, the kitchen, in med- icine or in the winter on icy roads – our life is inextricably linked to this natural substance. Invention The History of Aluminium Foil Everyone knows the soft rustle of shiny foil when a sandwich is unwrapped or a piece of tasty chocolate enjoyed. Stapferhaus Lenzburg On 15 April 1905 the patent for producing this well-known silver paper was awarded to Heinrich Alfred Gautschi from Aargau. The entrepreneur born in Menziken developed a Answering Difficult rolling mill for what was referred to as a paper Questions or book rolling procedure in his company. This Museums, Exhibitions involved rolling a thin sheet of aluminium, What do we mean by Heimat (a German term incorporating home then dividing it into two halves, laying them on and a sense of belonging)? What does money do to us? Why are we top of each other and rolling them again. The always running out of time? And what does truth mean? The exhibi- process was repeated until there was a package and Visitor Centres tions at Stapferhaus focus on controversial subjects and invite visitors of 64 foil sheets. The new kind of foil was first to enjoy an interactive discovery tour. The cultural institution in Len- used in particular for packaging, replacing tin The small plates holding exquisite pralines and crisp chocolate From casting a church bell or making a straw hat through zburg encourages visitors to question the familiar, make discoveries which had been the metal of choice to date. neapolitans go round on the conveyor belt. Skewers bearing the history of tobacco down to the deep system of passageways on their own and take their own stance. From 1911 the company founded by the Swiss colourful pieces of fruit are waiting to be dipped in the sweet under the town of Aarau, more than 70 museums and exhibi- pioneer, Aluminiumwarenfabrik Gontenschwil chocolate fountain. The Chocolat Frey Visitor Centre invites tion centres in Aargau open up their doors and gates. They AG, started producing other products made you to enjoy a delicious taste experience and make surprising take you on exciting journeys through time to long forgotten from aluminium. discoveries in the world of chocolate. objects, crafts and languages. Aargau is and always has been an innovative There is a lot of loud giggling to be heard when children canton. Today this can be seen from the nu- generate energy on the slide in the Umwelt Arena Schweiz. merous inventions from the past, as well as in But you will only hear the squeaking of tyres when Segways, modern locations such as the PSI, Park Inno- e-bikes and electric vehicles compete on the indoor run. This vaare and the Hightech Zentrum. is where subjects such as sustainability, renewable energy and nature can be experienced. aargautourismus.ch/ erleben 6 #aargau #museum 7 Festivals & Events: Celebrating Together TOP EVENTS presented by Markus Kocher, AZ editor Natural paradise, the canton for hiking and cycling, a canton of culture – there is virtually no other canton in Switzerland which has Event calendar as much to offer as the regions of ’carrot country’. And what a lot at of visitors do not know: Aargau has made a name for itself as aargautourismus.ch/ a festival and event region far beyond the borders of the canton. events BOSWIL SUMMER This is something a long way up my personal best-of list. The atmospheric classic festival brings world-class artists as well as young, creative musicians together and is an indisputable highlight of the Swiss festival scene. When: June/July Where: Künstlerhaus Boswil More: www.kuenstlerhausboswil.ch GP GIPPINGEN I am also a regular guest at GP Gippingen: the four-day sports event and fair is the largest sports event in Aargau, attracts several hundred cyclists every year and has been held since 1964. When: June Where: Gippingen More: www.gippingen.ch HEITERE OPEN AIR A definite must in August is a visit to the Heitere Open Air which is known for its unique and idyllic location. It was voted best Swiss Festival in 2016. When: August Where: Zofingen More: www.heitere.ch BRUCKENSENSATIONEN RHEINFELDEN The Heitere Open Air is followed directly by the street theatre festival in Rhein- “We want visitors to feel the energy” felden. In the middle of August, professional artists from all over Europe attract Daniela Biedermann, thousands of visitors to the old Rhine Bridge, the island and the bridge heads with Head of the Axporama Visitor Centre in Böttstein acrobatics, artistry, clownery, theatre, music and street art. Immerse yourself and all your senses in the fasci- When: August Where: Rheinfelden More: www.kultur-rheinfelden.ch nating world of electricity and find out more about energy and climate in a fun way: this is what school FANTOCHE Int. Animation Film Festival classes, companies, clubs and associations can expect on an exciting journey of discovery at the September too is colourful and outstanding.