Thalheim is centrally located between the big cities of Zurich, Berne, Basle and Lucerne, each of them less than an hour's drive away. The drive to Zurich intercontinental Airport takes just 40 minutes.

You want to visit Thalheim? That means, you have to leave the main roads. Leave the Bözberg road (Zurich-Basle) at Umiken (near Brugg) and the Aare valley road (Zurich-Berne) at Schinznach-Bad or Wildegg. You will reach Thalheim via Schinznach-Dorf or Veltheim. If you arrive from the canton's capital, Aarau, you drive towards Frick and Basle. When you reach Staffelegg Pass, exit to the right and climb some 40 meters more. You will be rewarded by viewing the wonderful scenery of Schenkenberg and Aare valley. 

But you don't need a car to visit Thalheim. Switzerland has a very efficient transportation system (train and bus) that will bring you to Thalheim in the shortest possible time. From everywhere in the country, take the train to Brugg. The bus stop is near track 1 of the railroad station. Take the bus to Thalheim which departs at least every hour and brings you to Thalheim in 28 minutes. 

A rewarding journey
Thalheim is Schenkenberg valley's uppermost village. The valley has a great scenery and a visit is rewarding in every season. The landscape is especially beautiful in Spring, when the cherry trees are blooming. We are at the border of famous Frick valley, and our agriculture has not yet been industrialized. 

You want to have fun? Then come in Fall when we harvest the first grapes. On three weekends in October, the restaurants are open until 3 a.m. of the next morning. Eat the famous sausages made of meat from pigs that have been slaughtered the same day. And drink the even more famous new wine that has not yet fully fermented and therefore still is sweet. The pigs are raised according to the rules of organic farming. 

There are several beautiful view points in Thalheim. Among them are the ruin of Schenkenberg and the Zeiher Homberg. From the Gislifluh, our house mountain, the Alps to the South and the Black Forest to the North are visible on very clear days. 

A look into history
The most famous sightseeing destination - and a wonderful playground for children - is the castle ruin of Schenkenberg. From the village, it is reached on foot in about 30 minutes. The castle has been built in the early 13th century by the Habsburg dynasty. In 1460, it was taken over by the Bernese. About 50 governors have resided on Schenkenberg castle. The castle was built of locally mined limestone and needed a lot of renovation. Eventually, the costs got too high. Moreover, there was not enough drinking water. Therefore, in 1720, the governors abandoned Schenkenberg castle and moved to Wildenstein castle. In 1798, Napoleon invaded Berne and founded the new canton of Aargau which became owner of Schenkenberg castle (near Veltheim). In 1837, Josef Maximilian von Schenkenberg bought the castle, but nobody has ever heard of him since. The castle began to decay. The stones were taken away by locals for building houses. In 1918, it was sold by auction. The "Aargauer Heimatschutz", a society intending to preserve old buildings and towns, bought the ruin for 50 Swiss francs - the costs of the auction. In 1931 to 1939 and in 1969 to 1970 the society did expensive preservation works. 

The Church is found on the south rim of the village at a slightly elevated place. It is surrounded by the cemetery. Parts of the walls originate from the Romanian style church that was consecrated to St. Peter. There have been changes in the 14th and 15th century. In 1543 the church was enlarged and renovated. The baptismal font was donated in 1675 by governor Samuel Thormann and his wife Margarete née Archer. 

The main place of the village is dominated by today's parsonage that still bears the Bernese arms on its front. It was built in 1731/32. The well in the center of the place was built in 1856. There is a second well in the lower part of the village; as it dates of 1837, it is even older.

Thalheim was first mentioned in 1064. There are alemannian graves, so we know that the area was inhabited much earlier. In the 17th century, wine-growing made the village the second-largest (in inhabitants) of the district. At the end of the 19th century, Thalheim and the neighboring villages of Schenkenberg valley were shaken by a major crisis of the wine-growing business. Many families had to leave their home village. Therefore, the family names Wernli, Dietiker, Ging, Härdi, Schneider and Umiker are found all over the world. There are much more members of these families than inhabitants of Thalheim. 
 

Permanent changes 
During the last 20 years, Thalheim has changed dramatically. The decline of inhabitants stopped. The lowest number of inhabitants was reached in 1980 when there were 550. Compare this with 1117 in 1850. Since then, the number is growing again, mainly because several people have built new houses. The family name of an inhabitant of Thalheim is no longer necessarily "Wernli" or "Dietiker". We now have also as exotic names as "Meier" and "Huber" (two of the most common names in Switzerland, but they weren't represented in Thalheim until recently). 

Agriculture and Viticulture (our arms!) have lost much of their importance. There are still 30 full- or part-time farmers. Wine from Thalheim vineyards is known as "Thalheimer", "Schenkenberger" and "Chalöfner". 

Most of the inhabitants work in one of the neighboring cities - some go as far as Zurich. There are also several businesses in Thalheim. 

Most people in Thalheim are member of one or more of our several clubs. There is a club for gymnastics and one for singing, but also one for shooting and one for rabbit breeding.  

Phone 056 443 1284 (international: +4156 443 1284) 
Fax 056 443 3643 (international: +4156 443 3643) 
E-Mail: gemeindekanzlei@gemeinde-thalheim.ch