The Bernese Oberland is one of the most spectacularly beautiful regions of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit, especially during the summer months. The combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fresh air, summer heat, jagged rocks and lush rolling green hills will quickly fascinate you. If you like hiking you will find your "eldorado" in the Bernese Oberland. You will be rewarded with 100% pure nature. From the romantic shores of Lake of Thun until the endless forests until the freezing cold in glaciers, one highlight follows the other.Interlaken is a good place from which to explore the central region of the Bernese Oberland. This small town lays between two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is at no distance from the triple peaks of the Jungfrau (4,158 metres), Mönch (4,099 m) and Eiger (3,970 m) mountains.Take a train or cable car to one of the many vantage points from which to view the incredible surroundings. A 40-minute train trip east toward the skiing and hiking center of Grindelwald, situated at the northern face of the Eiger is always a good beginning. From here you can take the Jungfrau Railway up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres above sea level or experience the longest cable railway ride in the Alps to the Pia Gloria on the Schilthorn, as visited by James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Also from here only a short bus trip away is the Obergletscher (Upper Glacier) with the ice grottoes. Grindelwald is also home to a yodelling festival in July and the World Snow Festival in mid-January.
Other places to visit include the resorts of Männlichen, Wengen and Muerren as well as the picturesque towns of Lauterbrunnen, Bönigen and Iseltwald.Lake of Thun, in the very heart of Switzerland, enjoys a unique combination of lake and mountains. Blessed with a mild climate that lasts well into autumn, the region is often referred to as the "Riviera of the Bernese Oberland" and perfect for a relaxing time in a beautiful environment. Indeed, where else do guests have such a multitude of opportunities to travel through and explore such a well-defined region and enjoy all kinds of activities, with something to suit each and everyone? In and on the water, on land, along the lakeshores, in the villages and in town, on panoramic mountain tops and even in the air. Walk around the old town of Thun and visit its 12th century castle, the Schloss Thun. Apart from containing a museum, the castle has a Romanesque tower that offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. If castles pique your interest, why not take one of many boat trips that stop off at castles such as Schloss Oberhofen with its beautiful 19th century landscaped garden or Schloss Hünegg which also has a beach. Visit the western part of Bernese Oberland, best known for the ski resort town of Gstaad, and the Simmental and Frutigenland regions or head eastwards to Meiringen in the Hasli Valley. Or, head to the Reichenbach Falls, the scene of Sherlock Holmes' death and the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Lovers of Swiss folk music, jazz and pop music fans also find their fair share. Lake Thun also offers excellent wind conditions for sailing and windsurfing. Divers appreciate the unique feeling that floating in crystal-clear water offers. And of course, there are many possibilities for mountain bikers, rock climbers, mountaineers and tennis players. For those who prefer a more tranquil pace, there are opportunities for swimming, golf, horseback riding and strolling or hiking |
