The Lake of Thun

2016-11-19T20:05:58+01:00

Thun is a beautiful old and compact city at the lower side of the lake. At the other side, where the Aare river enters and mainly feeds the lake lies the village of Interlaken.

The lake of Thun is a mountain lake fed by water flowing down from the partly icy heights of the area. That is why it is also a rather cold lake. Even at the highest point of summer it reaches a maximum of about 22°C. However swimming out in this lake in the midst of a majestic mountain scenery is a most thrilling experience….

The lake is on an altitude of 558m. The Aare river meanders on flowing through Bern that lies another 20km down the river. In summer many people float down the river on rubber boats.

A great way to explore the lake is via boat. There are five different boats that crisscross the lake according to a set schedule stopping at the major villages on both sides of the lake.

In Interlaken it is easy to stroll across to the port for boarding a boat cruising the lake on the other side of Interlaken, called the lake of Brienz.

The Lake of Thun2016-11-19T20:05:58+01:00

Interlaken

2017-02-27T15:32:36+01:00

The village of Interlaken is situated between the lake of Thun and the lake of Brienz and has steep mountains on two sides. The village consists only of about 15’000 inhabitants. However especially over the winter and summer season there are many more people from all nations spending nights in the place. Many shops not only serve their customers in German, French, English, Italian and Japanese but also in Chinese and some also in Arabic. Especially the latter two languages these days are frequently spoken!

The village itself isn’t as beautiful as the much older Thun or Berne. However it is really a magnet for tourists. Why?

Interlaken is a good starting point for exploring the area. There are more than 45 mountain railways, cable cars and even boats and other means inviting to great excursions.

The nearby Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are certainly the most famous mountain peaks that dominate the area with the famous Jungrau Joch. However many other less known destinations are certainly worth exploring too such as the Schilthorn, the Schynige Platte, the Niesen, the Stockhorn and the Niederhorn which offer spectacular views as well.

The city of Berne is just a mere 45 minutes car / train ride away.

Interlaken2017-02-27T15:32:36+01:00

The Lake of Hallwil

2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

Two beautiful natural lakes are part of the valley of the lake (Seetal): the lake of Hallwil and the smaller lake of Baldegg. Here in the picture is the lake of Hallwil (Hallwilersee). It is surrounded by soft green hills.

The lake of Hallwil is 8km long and very clean, like almost every lake in this country. The water has virtually drinking water quality.

In spring when the many fruit trees are in full bloom the area looks like in a picture book.

In summer the temperature of the lake reaches easily a comfortable 25°C. The lake offers a very popular and relaxing swimming experience and all sorts of water sports.

Usually in mid October a 21km jogging event takes place leading around the lake.

Occasionally in a very cold winter the whole lake can freeze up. The last time this happened in 1986.

Beinwil am See is the biggest village sitting on the lake and is part of the Canton of Aargau. Quite a few artists have made their home in this charming area.

Opposite of Beinwil am See is the village of Aesch (belonging to the Canton of Lucerne). On the sunny hills of Aesch a great vine is produced by friends of ours. This wine has won several prices for its outstanding quality.

The lake is about 1 1/2 hour away from Berne when taking the slightly longer and very beautiful scenic route via Huttwil.

The Lake of Hallwil2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

The Emmental

2017-02-27T15:47:12+01:00

The river Emme starts at a spring in a mountainous area and has numerous creeks flowing into it. 80km after it’s source it  joins the bigger Aare river. The valley where the river Emme flows through is called the Emmental. It is part of the Canton of Berne.

Soft hills cover the Emmental, often with smaller rivers flowing through the valleys down below later joining the river Emme. The farming houses are typical with huge roofs almost touching the ground. The cheese produced in this valley is world famous: the Emmental cheese. Is is quite mild and has big holes.

A great way to explore the Emmental is with rented e-bikes. There are many suggested trails. The added power makes it easy to climb those steep hills.

The country folks from the Emmental tend to speak a very slow Bernese Swiss German. They are friendly and easy going but rather introverted. People in the villages greet everybody they encounter with a heartfelt „grüssech“.

The bigger places in the Emmental are Burgdorf, Langnau and Sumiswald.

In Langnau is the oldest free church of Switzerland. It goes back to the very beginning of the Mennonites who felt that the reformation of the church didn’t go far enough. So the government of the Canton of Berne started persecuting those pious folks. Between 1534 and 1540 around 158 Bernese Mennonites were thrown into prison, of those 109 were sent into forced exile (many left for the US) and 26 were executed.

The Emmental2017-02-27T15:47:12+01:00

Summer’s Slow Arrival

2016-06-07T11:57:20+02:00

This season we have had lot’s of rain and rather cooler days. Nature however has unfolded in beautiful colors everywhere. Lush green forests and meadows, and many private and public gardens are filled with the colors of summer flowers such as peonies, roses, petunias and others.

The four seasons are clearly marked. Meanwhile the days are quite long. Beginning of June the sun rises at 5 30 am and sets by 9.20 pm.  The summer solstice will be on June 21 with almost 16 hours of daylight. The nights are shorter and as soon as the sun is out for a a few days temperatures will quickly rise to 30°C and above: then summer will finally have arrived.

Summer’s Slow Arrival2016-06-07T11:57:20+02:00

Kemmeriboden

2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

Deep inside the Emmental at the end of a valley surrounded by a steep mountain range you will find the hamlet Kemmeriboden. Behind the mountains  surrounding it are three very distinct areas: the Emmental, the (UNESCO biosphere) Entlebuch and the lakes of Thun and Brienz.

The traditional hotel / restaurant there has been quite famous for several generations. A hundred years ago this place was well known for it’s bath. Nowadays people would go there rather for limited winter sports or in summer for a wide range of wonderful hikes along clearly marked trails, leading into these other three areas mentioned above.

The popular hotel offers interesting possibilites for accomodation. During winter you can choose to spend the night in an igloo. In summer you can sleep on hay. But the hotel offers also quite comfortable rooms and actually very nice food too.

From Berne it takes about 1 1/2 hours by public transport (train and bus) to get there, by car about an hour. At the hotel there is also plenty of free parking available. Public transport is very convenient, if you want to hike across into another area.

Kemmeriboden2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

Spring’s Rapeseed Fields

2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

Rapeseed is a flowering member of the mustard or cabbage family. In spring it’s bright yellow flower is replicated manyfold in fields all over the country. Those beautiful bright rapeseed fields stand out against the lush green grassy hills and the mountains further off still covered with snow.

Today the farmers in Switzerland use rapeseed mainly for the production of animal feeds. From rapeseed a very healthy edible vegetable oil can be gained, that is often mixed into salads and used for cooking.

World production of rapeseed is growing rapidly. In Chinese it’s called oil vegetable or 油菜.

Spring’s Rapeseed Fields2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

First Spring Colours

2016-03-28T21:29:01+02:00

Finally spring has arrived. The birds are tweeting. Spring flowers are blooming such a crocus, primulas, daffodils, tulips, snowbells…. Colors are back in the private little gardens and public squares. But the forests still look bare without green leaves.

Temperatures are rising and just now the time was set back by one hour (back to summer time). The switch takes place on the fourth Sunday of March at 3 am. For people living in the lower areas they can soon change the winter tires and get the summer tires back on.

Right through April there can be huge weather changes. During the night it is still cold. In one day there could even be some snow flakes and a few hours later warm and sunny weather (1°-25°C). So don’t put your warm clothing out of reach yet.

First Spring Colours2016-03-28T21:29:01+02:00

Le Lac de Joux – The Watch Valley

2016-04-23T12:09:30+02:00

The lake Joux is on an altitude of 1004m in the northwest of Switzerland. It is one of the bigger lakes (9km long) in the hills of the Jura.

La vallée de Joux (the Joux valley) is in the French speaking part of Switzerland and belongs to the canton of Vaud. During winter often the surface of the lake freezes up and becomes a natural ice skating range. There is a modest skiing area too. In summer this spot is also nice to visit for the beauty of it. Some great fish restaurants are easily located.

In la vallée de Joux you will find four famous watch companies: Audemar-Piquet, Blancpain, Breguet and Jaeger-Lecoultre. Also, if you are interested in watches, check out the small watch making museum in Le Sentier.

The border to France is in close proximity. Over 300 years ago many Huguenots (French protestant Christians) escaped a religious persecution in France by slipping across the border into the Jura of Switzerland where they lived in isolation. There some of them continued to develop the art of watch making. Many of today’s famous watch making companies in this area have roots going back to the Huguenots.

Le Lac de Joux – The Watch Valley2016-04-23T12:09:30+02:00

Winter Forest

2016-02-14T23:00:40+01:00

These last few weeks have been rather warm for this season. But finally winter has arrived and temperatures have now dropped to 0°C and below that. Only now snow stays on as it is cold enough not to melt anymore. And there is certainly more snow to come…

The forest is beautiful in all seasons. About a third of our trees are many different types of broad-leaved trees that mark the seasons clearly. Two thirds are various coniferous trees.

The forest has a long tradition of being well tended. It covers about a third of the country. A third of the forested areas is found on our mountains (Jura and alps). Year by year an army of forest workers cut specific trees and keep the many roads and hiking trails in the forests in good shape. 70% of the forest is in public hands.

Today our forests are very much parceled up. There are not many spots in Switzerland where you won’t see some artificial lights caused through cars or housing.

 

Winter Forest2016-02-14T23:00:40+01:00

Dusk at Lake Thun

2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00

The lake of Thun is over 200m deep. The light effects on the water are often mesmerising. The mountain towering above the lake is called Niesen. On top is a restaurant that serves great breakfasts. A cable car takes folks to the peak which is at 2362m above sea level or 1800m above the lake.

From the middle station a hike up to the very top is a little sporty but not dangerous at all. It’s quite an unforgettable memory. The weather up there sometimes changes very quickly from broad sun light to clouds and fog.

On a clear day the view on top of the Niesen is breathtaking across to the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (all reaching an altitude of around 4000m).

Check out our post on the Canton of Berne.

Dusk at Lake Thun2017-08-03T12:14:27+02:00
Go to Top