Pro Natura Zentrum Eichholz

About the museum

The site on the Strandweg in Wabern was over time a floodplain on the Aare, after the river correction around 1850 reedland, from 1922 an athletics facility and from 1947 the location of the cantonal fish hatchery. When the hatchery moved to Reutigen in 1979, vacant buildings and ponds remained; a shoreline protection plan later designated the area as a nature reserve.

A supporting association converted the old fish hatchery buildings into a visitor centre. The then Infozentrum Eichholz opened in 2011 with an exhibition on the beaver and was built up over the following years with the help of many volunteers. In 2021 Pro Natura Bern took over the building as the Pro Natura Zentrum Eichholz; the association Verein Naturzentrum Eichholz continues to support operations with maintenance work, guided tours and donations.

Today the centre shows a permanent exhibition about the Aare, from its source in the Grimsel region to its confluence with the Rhine near Koblenz, focusing on the section between Thun and Bern and the development of the Eichholz itself. Around the building you can explore ponds, floodplain forest and an observation tower built in 2020. In addition there are guided tours, lectures, workshops and school programmes.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "The Aare – a diverse habitat with an eventful history"
• Nature area with ponds and an observation tower
• Audio stations, a quiz and river landscapes for children to design
• Guided tours, lectures and workshops
• Floodplain landscape close to the city with beavers, birds and dragonflies

Permanent exhibition

• Die Aare – vielfältiger Lebensraum mit bewegter Geschichte – The exhibition follows the Aare from its source in the Grimsel region to its confluence, traces the development of the Eichholz and tells the history of the river between Thun and Bern.

Founded

2011

Operated by

Pro Natura Bern

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the rental page, the sanitary facilities are barrier-free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the exhibition, children can listen to audio stations with stories of the Aare, design their own river landscapes and solve a quiz. The centre offers programmes for all age groups.

Getting there & parking

From Camping Eichholz, pink dots on the ground lead to the centre.

Amenities & dining

The restaurant Serini is located in the Eichholz but is not part of the centre.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Seminar room for about 20 people and a large room with kitchen, arbour and arena. During the exhibition's opening hours (April–October) only the seminar room can be rented; from November to March the building is only of limited use due to the lack of heating.

Plan your visit