Alpine view on the southern flank of the Hürnberg

A hike with great views from the hospitable Emmental village of Grosshöchstetten to the excellent resting place on Ballenbüel. The contrast between the pastel-coloured expanse of the fields in the Aare valley and the dark wooded heights of the Emmental hills is particularly pleasing. On clear days, the peaks of the Bernese Oberland shine above. Longer sections on hard surface.

Grosshöchstetten, which was still called Hönstetten in the Middle Ages, belonged to important Bernese knightly families such as the von Bubenberg and von Erlach. However, the Schüpbachhaus on Dorfstrasse was built by Christian Schüpbach from the famous dynasty of doctors and miracle healers from Langnau.
From the station, first take the footpath along the tracks northwards, then cross the railway tunnel and climb leisurely along a goods road towards Hürnberg-Wald. From the Zälg farm, this turns into a forest path and climbs sharply through a forest hollow. A magnificent high-altitude promenade begins at the Hubel farm.
The view stretches from the Lucerne-Oberwald Fürstein and the Schrattenflue to the impressive chain of peaks in the Bernese Oberland. The view of the broad valley floor between Konolfingen and Signau is also delightful. Passing the Ober Hötschigen farm, you reach the landmark of southern Hürnberg, the mighty linden trees on Ballenbüel, visible from afar (to Konolfingen 30 min; to Gysenstein-Tägertschi/Station 55 min; to Hürnberg-Schlosswil 50 min).
According to the chronicler Jahn, a place of worship dedicated to the Celtic sun god Belenus was located here. The rest area, which is kept free of traffic, offers a panorama that could not be more beautiful: Above the dark wooded heights of the Emmental and the wide plain of the Aare Valley, the Oberland mountain peaks border the horizon. And towards the city, above the gentle ridge of the Frienisberg, you can see the blue ribbon of the Jura. Panorama boards provide information.
The steep descent to Ursellen on an initially narrow path strains the knee joints. Rudolf von Tavel chose the nearby Schlössli, built in 1712 with a beautiful view, as the setting for his novel "Der Frondeur", which describes the life of a mercenary captain in the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War.
The magnificent view compensates for the long asphalt stretch that has to be mastered on the descent past the Tägertschi S-Bahn station to Münsingen. Various sights of this large village lie on the way to the station, including the church (1709), the vicarage (1489), the Bären inn ("Wynhus1371"), one of the oldest inn
houses in the canton of Bern, as well as the castle estate and castle (1550).