Boniswiler-Seenger Ried

Boniswiler-Seenger Ried is a nature reserve on the shore of Lake Hallwil in the Swiss canton of Aargau, spread across the municipalities of Boniswil and Seengen. It is a protected area of national importance and is described in cantonal publications as the largest flat moor in Aargau.

What is Boniswiler-Seenger Ried?

It is a large wetland at the southern end of Lake Hallwil. "Ried" is the German word for marshy ground covered with grasses, sedges and reeds. Water shapes the landscape here: damp meadows, bands of shoreline vegetation and patches of waterlogged forest. Older reserve descriptions put the area at about 40 hectares, of which roughly 4 hectares is woodland, mainly alder swamp forest.

Why does this place matter?

The reserve is listed in two Swiss federal inventories at once: the Federal Inventory of Flat Moors of National Importance and the Federal Inventory of Amphibian Spawning Sites of National Importance. That makes it both an especially valuable wetland habitat and an important breeding area for amphibians. It is also protected as a site in the Emerald network under the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats.

How long has it been protected?

Protection goes back decades. In 1986 the area was designated a nature protection zone under the cantonal Lake Hallwil protection decree, passed by the cantonal parliament. The Boniswiler Ried lies at the lower end of the lake and forms part of the Lake Hallwil landscape, which is listed in the federal inventory of landscapes and natural monuments (BLN no. 1303).

Where is it and how do you find it?

The reserve lies on the shore of Lake Hallwil, where the municipalities of Boniswil and Seengen meet, in the Seetal valley of Aargau. Coordinates are roughly 47.317° N, 8.199° E. Lake Hallwil is one of the better-known lakes in the region, and the area makes a convenient short outing from Zurich or Lucerne.

What should you know before visiting?

• This is a protected area: keep noise down, stay on the paths open to visitors and do not pick plants.
• Keep dogs on a lead or leave them at home, because sensitive wetlands are easily damaged.
• Watch wildlife calmly and from a distance; wetlands like this matter especially to amphibians and waterbirds.
• Check current access rules with the canton of Aargau or the municipality before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is Boniswiler-Seenger Ried the largest flat moor in Aargau? Cantonal publications describe it as the largest flat moor of national importance in the canton of Aargau.

What protections cover the reserve? It is listed in the national inventories of flat moors and of amphibian spawning sites, and it is a site in the Emerald network under the Bern Convention.

When was the protection zone created? In 1986, under the cantonal Lake Hallwil protection decree.

Where exactly is the reserve? On the shore of Lake Hallwil, in the municipalities of Boniswil and Seengen in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland.