Lake Thun

Lake · canton of Bern · 558 m

The gateway to the Bernese Oberland, watched over by the Niesen.

From the basket

Between Thun and Interlaken, Lake Thun stretches for eighteen kilometres, framed by mountains. From the balloon its colour shifts with the light, from deep blue to emerald green. To the south rise the Niesen, a perfect pyramid, and further off the great peaks of the Oberland; to the north, the Prealps shield it from cold winds.

Along its shores come, one after another, Spiez and its castle, Oberhofen, Gunten, Merligen and, at the end, Thun, from where the Aare sets off again towards Bern. The Kander, coming down from the mountains, flows into it from the south. Nearly four hundred thousand people live around its waters, and the lake gives them their drinking water too.

Sheltered from the northern winds, it enjoys a mild climate: in summer the air averages eighteen degrees. It is also a valuable stopover for migrating birds, which rest there during their long journeys.

Make a loop above the water, from Spiez Castle to Thun Castle, then head back up towards Interlaken and Lake Brienz.

Did you know?

The name Thun comes from a Celtic word, “dunum”, meaning a fortified hill. A chronicle from the seventh century already speaks of the “Lake Duninse”, into which the Aare flows.

Sources: Wikipedia, “Lac de Thoune” (in French).

All around

• Interlaken, 3 km to the east
• Stockhorn, 2190 m, 8 km to the west
• Eiger, 3967 m, 17 km to the south-east
• Mönch, 4107 m, 18 km to the south-east
• Jungfrau, 4158 m, 18 km to the south-east
• Brienzer Rothorn, 2350 m, 21 km to the north-east