Interlaken Attractions
Interlaken, reached by way of the Berne highway or the Brünig, Susten or Grimsel/Furka passes, lies between Lakes Thun and Brienz below the north side of the Jungfrau massif and offers an endless variety of walks, climbs and other excursions, particularly in the mountains of the Bernese Oberland, brought within reach by numerous mountain railroads, cableways, etc. It is one of the oldest, best known and most popular summer holiday resorts in Switzerland, outstandingly well equipped to cater for the needs of visitors. Between the two lakes is an expanse of some 35 sq. km/14 sq. mi of alluvial soil, deposited over many millennia by mountain streams from the Bernese Oberland such as the Lütschine and the Lombach. On this green and level area, known as the Bödeli, live the 20,000 inhabitants of the separate communes of Interlaken, Böningen, Matten, Unterseen and Wilderswil.
The fertile alluvial soil of the Bödeli was probably settled at an early stage by Celtic tribes. Later the main settlers were Alemanni, driven from their homeland by Burgundian incomers. A major influence on the economic and cultural development of the area was the Augustinian house founded here (inter lacus) in 1133, joined in 1257 by a nunnery. The monks were pioneers of urban development and soon became the largest landowners in the Bernese Oberland. After Berne's adoption of the reformed faith in 1528 the monastery was dissolved (and is now occupied by district administrative offices). The first visitors began to come here in the 17th C., and as transport facilities improved - with the coming of the railroad, boat services on the lakes and most recently the expressway - Interlaken became the major tourist attraction of the Bernese Oberland. Among the great attractions of the area were its local folk traditions and art. In 1805 and 1808 the peasant stock-farmers of the Alpine pasturelands celebrated their first great pastoral festivals at Unspunnen, near Interlaken; and at this time, too, the painter Franz Niklaus König was living in Schloss Unterseen and painting the pictures of mountains which became so widely popular.
The fertile alluvial soil of the Bödeli was probably settled at an early stage by Celtic tribes. Later the main settlers were Alemanni, driven from their homeland by Burgundian incomers. A major influence on the economic and cultural development of the area was the Augustinian house founded here (inter lacus) in 1133, joined in 1257 by a nunnery. The monks were pioneers of urban development and soon became the largest landowners in the Bernese Oberland. After Berne's adoption of the reformed faith in 1528 the monastery was dissolved (and is now occupied by district administrative offices). The first visitors began to come here in the 17th C., and as transport facilities improved - with the coming of the railroad, boat services on the lakes and most recently the expressway - Interlaken became the major tourist attraction of the Bernese Oberland. Among the great attractions of the area were its local folk traditions and art. In 1805 and 1808 the peasant stock-farmers of the Alpine pasturelands celebrated their first great pastoral festivals at Unspunnen, near Interlaken; and at this time, too, the painter Franz Niklaus König was living in Schloss Unterseen and painting the pictures of mountains which became so widely popular.
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Höhematte (Höheweg)
Stretching across 35 acres is the Hohematte, an open space featuring a theater, cafe, splendid flower beds, a flower clock and a Gothic stye church.
Jungfrauregion Tourism Museum
The history of Swiss tourism is represented in this museum.
Touristisches Regionalmuseum
Obere Gasse 26
CH-3800 Unterseen
Switzerland
Obere Gasse 26
CH-3800 Unterseen
Switzerland
Hours
May 1 to October 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Sports
On the right bank of the Aare opposite the Kursaal is Interlaken's fresh water swimming-pool. There is an indoor pool, a golf course in Unterseen and trips on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. For sporting enthusiasts there is sailing, windsurfing, riding and tennis.
Tourism Museum
The Interlaken tourist museum in Unterseen is located on Obere Gasse.
Hours
May 1 to October 11
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Unterseen
The Marktgasse runs northwest from the Interlaken post office over the Spielmatten islands to the little town of Unterseen (569 m/1,867ft; pop.4,700), at the foot of Mt Harder.
In the old part of the town stands the parish church, with Late Gothic tower (1471).
In the old part of the town stands the parish church, with Late Gothic tower (1471).
Interlaken Surroundings
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Harder
The Harden Alpine Wildlife Park along the road to Brienz features a funicular offering beautiful views over the Jungfrau mountainous area and lakes.
Heimwehfluh
From the south end of Rugenparkstrasse in Interlaken a funicular (length 167 m/548ft, height difference 120 m/394ft, time three minutes) runs up to the Heimwehfluh (676 m/2,218ft; cafe, restaurant, lookout tower), which forms the northwest buttress of the Grosser Rugen (800 m/2,625ft). Model-railroad enthusiasts should see the layout of the Gotthard and Lötschberg lines, presented by the Heimwehfluh-Bahn-AG.
Schynige Platte
A popular trip from Interlaken is to the Schynige Platte (2,000 m/6,564ft; Hotel Kulm 40b.), reached from Wilderswil, 3km/2mi south of the town, on a rack-railroad (cog-railroad) opened in 1893 (7km/4mi, 50minutes). From the top there is one of the finest panoramic views of the Alps. Alpine garden with 500 species of flowers.
Bonigen, Switzerland
From the Höheweg in Interlaken a road goes east to reach the south shore of Lake Brienz at Bönigen (569 m/1,867ft; pop. 1,900). The old part of the town has richly carved timber houses of the 15th to 18th C. The modern resort is well equipped with facilities for the entertainment of visitors.
Bonigen - Village Museum
(In Bönigen, Switzerland)
This local history museum features a rural kitchen with utensils from the 1730's to 1900.
Iseltwald, Switzerland
High above the south side of Lake Brienz is the village of Iseltwald (565 m/1,854ft; pop. 420), on a quiet little peninsula with no through road.
Saxeten, Switzerland
From Wilderswil a road runs 6km/4mi up the Saxeten valley to Saxeten (1,103 m/3,620ft; pop. 100), a picturesquely situated mountain village from which Sulegg (2,412 m/7,914ft) can be climbed (about 4.5 hours).
Wilderswil, Switzerland
3km/2mi south of Interlaken is the little holiday town of Wilderswil (600 m/1,969ft; pop. 1,900). Northwest of the town is the ruined castle of Unspunnen, with the Unspunnenwiese, a meadow on which herdsmen's festivals were held at the beginning of the 19th C.
