lake Burgäschi (prehistoric lakeside settlement)

Lake Burgäschi (Burgäschisee) in Aeschi (SO) lies on the border between the cantons of Solothurn and Bern, where Neolithic villages once stood on the shore. It is a small lake of about 21 hectares, ringed by reeds and woodland. A visit combines an easy walk, a swim and a look at Swiss prehistory.

What kind of place is it?

Two municipalities share the shoreline: Aeschi on the Solothurn side and Seeberg on the Bernese side. Much of the lake is protected, and the belt of reeds and water lilies works as a nature reserve. For that reason you cannot enter the water, camp or light fires just anywhere.

What do we know about the lake dwellings?

Traces of Neolithic villages turned up at four spots around the shore: Nord, Ost, Südwest and Süd. The finds date almost entirely to the 4th millennium BC. Solothurn archaeologists now speak of ten villages across six sites, built between 5300 and 2600 BC.

The biggest digs took place at Süd in 1952, 1957 and 1958, after the lake level was lowered in 1943, led by the Bernisches Historisches Museum. The most common finds are pottery sherds of the Cortaillod culture, around 3800 BC. Copper items stand out too, among them 54 copper beads threaded on two cords.

Between 2015 and 2017 the University of Bern ran the "Beyond Lake Villages" project, and its results appeared in an open-access volume.

Is it a UNESCO site?

Partly. In June 2011 UNESCO inscribed 111 pile-dwelling sites around the Alps, including the Burgäschi Ost settlement on the Solothurn side. The Süd site is not part of the listing. Do not expect reconstructed huts or visible posts: the remains lie buried in the ground and under water.

What can you do at the lake?

• Walk the shore. A path on natural surfaces circles the lake, and a full loop takes a little over half an hour.
• Swim. The lido has a marked non-swimmer area, a raft, a diving board, beach volleyball courts and toilets. The season usually runs from early May to early September, and 2026 entry costs CHF 7 for adults and CHF 4 for children.
• Row. Rowing boats can be hired next to the lido. Canoes, inflatable boats and stand-up paddleboards are banned.
• Hike further. A 9.5 km route from Bollodingen with 190 m of climbing is rated moderate.

Frequently asked questions

Will I see prehistoric structures at Burgäschisee? No. The remains are hidden in the soil and underwater, so the draw is the scientific importance and the scenery.

Can I swim outside the lido? Nature protection rules allow bathing only at marked places.

How long does the lakeside loop take? A little over half an hour at an easy pace.

Can I bring my own kayak? No, kayaks, inflatables and SUP boards are prohibited. You can hire a rowing boat by the lido instead.