Aare Seeland mobil: Your journey is our concern

The "vinifuni" funicular between Ligerz and Prêles is part of Aare Seeland mobil AG, a modern, customer-oriented public transport company with a comprehensive range of mobility services.

Every day, Aare Seeland mobil delivers an extensive range of travel services. This diversity is the great strength of the overall company, with its perfectly interlocking structure of rail, bus, ship, cableway, freight transport, bus travel, catering, transport planning and tourism business sectors.

Aare Seeland mobil views the expansion in recreational traffic as an opportunity on account of the fact that, with its public transport infrastructures, it possess the ways and means to serve this growing need in an environmentally compatible manner. The "Aare Seeland Tours" label has been a guarantee of quality in group travel (groups of 10 or more) since 1993. 

Following the merger of the former Ligerz-Tessenberg funicular with asm in 2003, its entire infrastructure was renewed, and it reopened on 17 May 2004 under the new name "vinifuni". The new Ligerz-Prêles funicular has been integrated into the public transport timetable to great effect. Right from the outset, the public was enthusiastic about the new funicular, which carried the highest number of passengers in its history in the year it reopened (2004). In 2005, the 100,000 passenger mark was exceeded for the first time (102,698 passengers).

The most beautiful ascent and descent around Lake Biel

Under its new brand name "vinifuni", the new funicular takes you from the winegrowing village of Ligerz through picturesque vineyards, woods and meadows up to Prêles, the "Balcony of the Jura". In Prêles, a prealpine Jura climate prevails, in Ligerz a mild lakeside climate - French-speaking at the top, German-speaking at the bottom. The "vinifuni" forms a unique bridge between cultures!  

Enjoy the splendid panorama over Switzerland's Central Plateau from the Restaurant "La Buvette". Short or extended hikes or cycle tours to Mt. Chasseral, through the Twannbach Gorge or to the holiday village of Twannberg will show you the Jura at its most attractive. If you stop off at the Festi intermediate station, a 10-minute walk will take you to the panorama restaurant in Schernelz.

Cyclists can take the "vinifuni" to travel with their bikes to the top and then set off on an exhilarating valley descent to La Neuveville or Twann. 

For groups, a special attraction is a "Trottinett" scooter trip through the Twannbach Gorge and across the delightful vineyard country around Lake Biel.

Special trips to Ligerz Church

We will be pleased to organise special trips from Ligerz or Prêles to the Pilgerweg stop (near the church) and back for weddings in Ligerz Church. 

The funicular

The new funicular is a so-called winched railway and, in contrast to the former funicular, consists of just one cabin, driven via a hoisting drum at the mountain station. Both the mountain and valley stations have been adapted to give disabled passengers and wheelchair users easy access to the funicular.

Technical details: