Aare Gorge, Natural limestone canyon in Meiringen, Switzerland.
The Aare Gorge is a limestone valley carved by flowing water, with steep rock walls rising on both sides and passages that narrow dramatically in places. The river continues to flow through the bottom of the canyon, shaping the landscape as it moves.
The gorge is the youngest of seven chasms that meltwater beneath the Ice Age Aargletscher cut into the Kirchet, a limestone ridge between Innertkirchen and Meiringen. It is 1,400 metres long, only one metre wide at its narrowest, and its highest wall rises 180 metres above the Aare, which flows through at almost 12 km/h. A walkway over the river opened in 1888, and electric lighting for night walks followed in 1912.
The wooden walkways let you experience how water shapes the landscape as it rushes through limestone cliffs. Walking through, you notice how the gorge has become a meeting point where nature's raw power and human paths coexist.
You can enter from two different points, both located near train stations for easy access. The water moves quickly and the stone can be slippery, so wear good shoes and watch your footing throughout the walk.
Local legends held that the gorge was home to a Tatzelwurm, a dragon-like creature reportedly sighted into the 20th century; it now serves as the mascot for the gorge walk. The architect Rudolf Schwarz was inspired by a hike here for the spatial sequence and lighting he later realised in St. Michael's Church in Frankfurt's Nordend district.
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