Interlaken is a small town situated in the Bernese Oberland between Lake Thunersee and Lake Brienzersee. A primary holiday destination, it is covered by three mountains namely Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau.
History
In the 19th century, Interlaken had become famous for its scenic beauty. Mountaineers like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Felix Mendelssohn visited the mountains. In 1890, the Bernese Oberland Railways was completed thereby enhancing the tourist attraction. The Jungfrau railway was built in 1912. Swiss landscape artists like Franz Niklaus Konig have significantly contributed to the city’s reputation as an international tourist destination.
Things to Do in Interlaken
- Bonigen Village Museum – The “alte Pinte” museum was built in 1772 which exhibits the typical structure of the Bernese Oberland village including the rustic rooms and kitchen with fixtures, furnishings and items of daily use. The period between 1730 and 1920 is reflected.
- Bonigen Lido – It appeals swimmers to experience lake bathing. It is situated on the shores of Lake Brienz. The transparent waters of Lake Brienze offer a cool and comfortable experience for swimmers on hot days. It also has a small meadow for sunbathing or playing games. Facilities include heated open-air pool, rowing boats on hire and paddling pool.
- Fishing – To feel the experience of a successful fishing venture one must visit Interlaken. The waterways house lake trout, pikes and whitefish.
- Cruise – Sea blue waters, peaks covered with snow and cool breeze blowing – an ideal time to go on a cruise on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. It gives you an amazing experience to unwind yourself from daily worries and let your hair loose. The cruise passes through the panoramic fishing villages and steeped castles.
- Canoeing – To make your vacation memorable, you must canoe through the clear waters of Lake Brienz. Kayaks or pedalos can be hired on per hour basis at Bonigen Lido.
- Riverside walk – You can start from Interlaken east and walk on a path alongside River Aare. It is a pleasure walking along the riverside during a warm summer day.
- Adventure Sports – Interlaken caters for various types of sporting activities like paragliding and skiing
- Horse drawn carriage rides – Carriages are available for hire to visit the area leisurely from 30 minutes to an hour. The carriages can be hired from Interlaken West Railway Station or Hoheweg.
Must See Places in Interlaken
- Jungfrau – The alpine railways offer a delightful train trip around the great landscape. Since 1912, the Jungrau Railway operates throughout the year. The areas covered by the train are Eiger, Eigerwand, Eismeer and Monch passing through a 7km long tunnel.
- Trummelbach falls – It has 10 glacier waterfalls within a mountain. Tourists reach the falls by using a tunnel-lift. It is considered a world heritage site by UNESCO.
- Ice Palace – It is located in Jungfrau. Inside the mountain, its corridors and halls are made of ice.
- Schilthorn Mountain – Schilthorn Mountain is 2970 meters high. It is one of the highest mountains in the area. Its popularity has been increased after the shooting of the James Bond movie, On Her majesty’s Secret Service.
- Harder Kulm – One of the favorite tourist attractions, it is 1322 meters high offering a bird’s eye view of Interlaken and the mountain peaks of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
- Hoehematte – One of the main attractions, it possesses a rich history. It is a 35 acre meadow mostly used by paragliders as a landing ground. It takes around 30 minutes to walk around Hoehematte.
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