Beatushöhlen (caves)

After passing the Nase rock promontory the road comes to the parking place for the Beatushöhlen or St Beatus's caves (623 m/2,044ft: eight minutes' walk from the road), an extensive complex of stalactitic caves of which 2km/1mi are accessible to visitors. According to legend the caves were occupied by St Beatus (sixth century) and until the Reformation were a place of pilgrimage (conducted tour, one hour; Waldhaus restaurant). In the 8km/5mi of caves which have so far been explored, are several impressive waterfalls, lakes and stalactitic formations. The route continues through three tunnels and around a sheer rock face which, in places, actually overhangs the road, to Sundlauenen (609 m/1,999ft). It then runs along below the crag above the lake; in another 1.5km/1mi it passes a camping site and at the Neuhaus swimming station (on right; camping site on left) comes to the end of Lake Thun. 2km/1mi farther on the road passes the Hotel Beau-Site and crosses the "Bödeli", an area of alluvial soil deposited by the Lombach, to Unterseen (old church), an outlying district of Interlaken, where a road branches off on the left to Beatenberg. The road then bears right and crosses the Aare to enter Interlaken.