biel 23 practical information events

May 27th & 28th Stedtlifescht (summer festival) in How to get to Biel: June 3rd – 4th Stars of Sounds Festival ½ hourly trains from at the town square in Aarberg (15 train Zurich (1 hour 10 min.), Bern (26 min.), from minutes from Biel) with stars like Status Basel (1 hour 7 min.); hourly connections Quo and others from Lausanne (58 minutes) and Geneva June 16th – 18th Running Days Biel. (1 hour 27 min.). The train station hosts: European-cup of super-marathon, night- the tourist office (at Bahnhofplatz 12; 032 marathon and much more 329 84 84), lockers, bicycle rental, currency July 1st – 3rd Bieler Braderie – big summer Biel. In the old town exchange, fast food, small shops, post festival ­office (at Bahnhofplatz), Migros supermar- July 12th – 16th Pod’Ring – local rock ket (near train station, Bahnhofstr. 15), iel – or Bienne, in French – located between Bern in the south and Basel in the festival in the old town @ Internet­ at Lago Lodge. Another tourist north, offers great experiences in a small region. The city of Biel borders Lake Biel July 16th – 29th International Chess office is at Zentralstrasse 60 (032 329 84 86). Band is the only city in where there are two official languages: German Festival at Kongresshaus and French. Even the streets are marked in both languages in this charming city. In Biel July 27th – Aug 14th Open-air cinema at www.biel-.ch lies the cradle of the Swiss watchmaking industry. Trademarks such as Swatch, Omega, castle Nidau www.watchvally.ch Rolex, Tissot and many others, are closely associated with this city. It has a small but July 31st Lake Biel summer-feast. Party www.backpacker.ch beautiful historic centre, with a Gothic church (15th century) and its many fountains and big fireworks decorated with flowers. The Port of Biel is the starting point for scenic river and lake August 1st Swiss National Day – party cruises, which can take you to St.Peter’s Island and the Neuchâtel and Lakes (the everywhere! budget accommodation three lakes are linked by two canals and there are countless ways of criss-crossing them). August 19th & 20th Royal Arena Festival The region is a paradise of possibilities as far as the eye can see and offers lots of outdoor (hip-hop festival) in (10 minutes Lago Lodge, Uferweg 5 in Nidau (032 activities. With a wide selection of routes to choose from, Biel also makes the ideal start- by bus from Biel) 331 37 32), the only Swiss hostel with a ing point for beautiful cycling tours. August 26th – 28th “Altstadtchilbi”, large ­micro beer brewery. A 7-min. walk from fair in the old town of Biel the main station, the lodge is located be- highlights September 23rd – 28th Circus “Knie” at hind “Strandboden” – a public beach just Gurzelen Parking a few hundred meters from the main sta- The main attractions are strolling in the ning through the dark and craggy defile tion (direction lake) ›››www.lagolodge.ch old town, dropping in on a couple of small for about 2.5 km, and entry is free (there’s entertainment, fun & parties (For more ­accommodations/campsites ask museums and taking a boat ride on the a donation box near the entrance). at the tourist office). lake or the river. One of the best boat trips For adventure operators running canyon- • The Lago Lodge is not only a backpacker in the region is the river trip up the ing trips in the gorge and for other latest but also has a nice restaurant – taste from Biel to Solothurn, which takes about adventure opportunities, ask at Lago their beer! They have their own micro two and a half hours and passes a stork Lodge! brewery and bistro. colony at Altreu on the way. Just 28 train minutes from Biel, you can • St. Gervais (Untergasse 11) is where the Biel is a small city that’s easy to get around visit the Papiliorama. In this garden alternative people meet. in. Cycling is a good means to explore some (housed in an amphitheater which mea- • Enjoy your beer at Pooc (about 80 of the very beautiful places around the city. sures 40 metres in diameter and 14 metres­ ­different beers) or at Baramundo (both There are lots of cycling tours; a nice one is at its maximum height) at all times around are near Guisan-Platz). from Biel to Murten (distance 36 km, travel a thousand butterflies flutter about in • Restaurant du Commerce (Untergasse 25) time 3 to 4 hours). Bicycle rentals at the an enchanting and colourful ballet. Open is a small bar in the old town (no meals). train station or directly at Lago Lodge. Ask daily 9 am – 6 pm; admission CHF 17.–, • Coupole Biel (Silbergasse, opposite the at the hostel or the tourist office for a good students 14.–; there are hourly trains from congress center) is an alternative place. cycling map. Biel to the train stop Kerzers Papiliorama • Bien Bar (Dufourplatz / Bahnhofstrasse), Or do you like inline skating? This is as (you need to change the train in ). lovely people, famous for good local well a good means to explore the city and St.Peter’s Island is a nature reserve well- products. its surroundings. There’s also a skatepark loved and much visited. The political • DUO (Kontrollstrasse 26), Fri hip-hop (at Aarbergstr. 72, just two minutes from theorist Jean-Jacques Rousseau chose this and Sat house music. the Biel train station). But you need to bring island as his refuge in 1765, later calling • Bar Hasard (Bahnhofstrasse 4), small your own skates. it the happiest time of his life. The best bar with good beer. Northeast of Biel is the beautiful “Tauben- way to get to the island is by boat from • Pizzeria Seeland (Bahnhofplatz 7), good loch Gorge” (dove’s gorge)! Take bus no. 1 or Biel (approx.­ 50 minutes), which calls at pizzas, fair prices. 2 (direction Eisbahn) until station Tauben­ several lakeside villages en route. • El Dorado (Mattenstrasse 30), alternative On the route along the Aare River loch. There’s a well-engineered path run- bar, live concerts. ‹‹‹

backpacker, bistro and brewery at lake biel uferweg 5 • 2560 nidau / biel-bienne • swit zerland • [email protected] • www.lagolodge.ch • tel +41(0)32 331 37 32