The City of Thun, Which Is Located at the Lower End of Lake Thun, Is the Gate to the Bernese Oberland

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Thun The city of Thun, which is located at the lower end of Lake Thun, is the gate to the Bernese Oberland. The historic Old Town is situated about one kilometer from the shore of the lake, on the river Aare. There is a castle in the center of the Old Town that dates back to the 12th century and boasts a museum.

Thun-Thunersee Tourismus Bahnhof Thun 3600 Thun T +41 (0)33 225 90 00 F +41 (0)33 225 90 09 [email protected] http://www.thunersee.ch

200 m 1000 ft

The first settlement arose on today's site of the city as early as 2,500 BC. The mighty castle was constructed by the Dukes of Zähringen. It has a fortification tower built between 1180 and 1190. The halls of the tower house a historical museum that exhibits artifacts from prehistory and early history as well as medieval objects, weapons and uniforms from the 18th and 19th century, a ceramic collection and a toy exhibition. The castle's most splendid exhibit is the restored Knights Hall, dating to the 12th century.

Further sights in the Old Town include the town church with its tower dating back to about 1330, the town hall from the 16th century, the Old Town itself and the numerous restaurants and cafés along

General Info Canton: Berne Highlights Postcode/ZIP: 3600 - 3600 Altitude: 560 m ● Old town with castle - shopping and culture combined at close proximity.

Population: 41,781 ● Wocher Panorama - the 7.5-metre high and 38-metre long 360° circular painting in the Schadau Language: German Park depicts the town of Thun at about 1810.

● Stockhorn, Niesen, Niederhorn - accessible by mountain transport facilities, they are fantastic Important holidays 2012 in Thun vantage points in the immediate vicinity. 01. Jan 2012 Su New Years Day ● Cruising on Lake Thun - motor- and paddle-powered ships sail to Interlaken regularly (in winter 02. Jan 2012 Mo Saint Berchtold motor ships only). 06. Apr 2012 Fr Good Friday 08. Apr 2012 Su Easter ● Water sports by and in Lake Thun - the clean water of the lake is perfect for bathing, sailing, 09. Apr 2012 Mo Easter Monday surfing, diving etc. 17. May 2012 Th Ascension Day 27. May 2012 Su Whitsun 28. May 2012 Mo Whit Monday 01. Aug 2012 We Swiss National Holiday 24. Sep 2012 Mo Thuner Ausschiesset 25. Dec 2012 Tu Christmas 26. Dec 2012 We St. Stephen´s Day

Important phone numbers Emergency calls: 117 Police 118 Fire 144 Ambulance 1414 Swiss heli rescue

General information: 1811 General information such as eg doctors, theater, etc. 140 Breakdown Service 162 Weather Information 163 Road conditions 187 Avalanche Bulletin

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 2/17 A perfect day in Thun. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rise majestically across the lake, over which glides a historic paddle steamer. The castle and city church proudly dominate the late-medieval Old Town, which is full of surprises – such as the distinctive elevated pavements, which allow visitors to shop and stroll on two levels. Thun is love at first sight, and the ideal base for excursions into the Alps.

Farewell 09:00 A farewell stroll through the Bälliz is always a good idea – especially when you combine it with brunch at Steinmann, a traditional confectioner’s. This is also a great opportunity to pick up a packet of Läckerli biscuits from Thun – the perfect sweet souvenir to bring back home.

Island life 11:00 Boutiques and crafts shops line the main street of the Bälliz, an island in the Aare; a market is held here on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Take a seat at the Alte Oele café bar by the Aare sluice. This former rapeseed oil refinery is the perfect place to stop for a drink: a stylish combination of the old and the new, with a wonderfully relaxing garden.

Historic grandeur 12:00 In the historic heart of the Old Town, the Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square) oozes elegance – also thanks to the Metzgern guildhall. Built in 1361, it was renovated in 2003, and then became Thun’s first Goût Mieux restaurant – serving traditional Swiss, Mediterranean and Indian dishes.

Fairytale scenery 13:30 Schadau Park has a distinctive fairytale feel: the world-famous mountain trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau grace the horizon, and the atmosphere is blissfully tranquil. Art fans can admire the world’s largest panoramic rotunda painting, while romantics will love the castle, inspired by the châteaux of the Loire, which houses the Swiss Gastronomy Museum. The park is also home to one of Lake Thun’s 1,000-year-old churches with tapestries and paintings of national importance.

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 3/17 Sandy beach 18:30 At Mühleplatz, Thun takes on a Mediterranean feel. There is even a mini beach here: around the Fluss Bar you can bury your toes in the sand, and soak up the summery ambience. The bar stands beside the Aare, in the shade of weeping willows, and keeps good company: at Mühleplatz, several restaurants share wonderful views of the lake – as well as an exuberant atmosphere.

History 19:30 The Restaurant Fürgässli holds a secret: paving stones and other relics of the former Feuergasse (“Fire Alley”) run right through the interior. The restaurant serves seasonally inspired, artfully seasoned and wonderfully wholesome dishes – all by romantic candelight. In summer, you sit outside, right beside the Aare, and the motto is simple: come to see and be seen.

Musical oasis 22:00 This modern bar on Thun’s Rathausplatz is a tribute to the great Swiss blues musician Philipp Fankhauser, who was born in Thun. With its attractive ambience, smoking room and stylish cocktail list, the bar is popular with guests of all ages.

Hotel Schwert 24:00 The Hotel Schwert, along with its restaurant, is the sort of recommendation you usually receive only from good friends, under oath of secrecy. Located in a house in the Old Town close to the castle, the hotel has only a handful of rooms – yet each has been renovated and furnished with taste and affection.

Grand Hotel The Thunerhof is a substantial hotel building with clear lines in the Thunerhof French Neo-Renaissance form with a dominant tower. The stair hall is also well worth seeing, with its galleries and the light well in the interior of the building. The art museum is housed in the former dining room and renowned contemporary art exhibitions held here have attracted international attention. The patio, decorated with a rose trellis, serves as a summer terrace for the Thunerhof café and its location by the River Aare makes it the perfect setting for aperitifs on that special occasion.

Thunerhof / Kunstmuseum Thun Hofstettenstrasse 14 3602 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 225 84 20 Fax. +41 (0)33 225 89 06 [email protected]

Schadau Castle The building, built in place of an old manor house in the 19th century, features romantic and neo-Gothic style elements and is surrounded by an extensive English park landscape in which the panorama of Thun and Scherzligen Church are integrated. Schadau Castle is now home to the "Restaurant Arts" gourmet restaurant and the Swiss Gastronomy Museum as well as the registry office for the Oberland West Civil Registry District. Between 1972 and 1992, the castle façade was completely renovated by the city's stone carvers.

Schloss Schadau Thun Seestrasse 45 3600 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 222 25 00 [email protected]

Stadtkirche (city The massive octagonal front tower of the Stadtkirche Thun dates church) Thun back to around 1330. The main entrance and the arched porch are both located on the ground floor of the tower base. The tower hall with its three pointed arched openings is decorated with paintings from around 1430. The nave is relatively new and was added in 1738. The late baroque sermon hall, decorated with stucco work, the communion table and pulpit (both in Renaissance style), as well as a plaque of stucco marble and a bronze sculpture are all inside the church and are well worth seeing. There is a public exhibition on the first floor of the tower room that documents the history of the Stadtkirche.

Stadtkirche Thun · Schlossberg 14 · 3600 Thun · T +41 (0)33 222 15 81 · www.stadtkirche-thun.ch

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 6/17 Scherzligen This simple church is a popular wedding venue. The nave with its Church Romanesque walls hugs the excessively constructed Gothic choir, which almost seems to supplant the tower from an earlier period. This gradation lends an impressive note to the building’s construction. The church is one of the twelve "Millennial Lake Thun Churches". An earlier church built on the site is mentioned in an 8th-century document. Until the Reformation, it was a pilgrimage church for Marian devotion. The interior is decorated with wall paintings of national importance from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Kirche Scherzligen Schadaupark 3601 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 225 70 00 [email protected]

KKThun (Culture "Space, infrastructure and expertise" – the KKThun combines all and Convention the requirements for every type of event. This is indeed the ideal Centre, Thun) venue for organisers, guests, artists and exhibitors alike. It is all here – everything from the ideal space and the perfect sound through to the atmospheric lighting. We can also provide culinary concepts and decorative settings. Professional support for areas being organised by the client are also on hand. Our staff responsible for event logistics, production and hospitality are masters of their craft, and are renowned far and wide.

Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Thun · Seestrasse 68 · 3601 Thun · T +41 (0)33 334 99 00 · [email protected] · www.kkthun.ch

Konzepthalle6 Located close to the Old Town, the former industrial area and site of what was the Schweizerische Metallwerke Selve & Co has been brought back to life once again. Halle6, the only survivor out of some 20 industrial buildings, has been listed due to its unique architecture. Today, its interior literally pulsates with creative life with a design laboratory and interior decorators (daskonzept AG), cultural events in all forms imaginable (Konzepthalle6 AG) and award-winning gastronomy with legendary culinary delights (thunisst.ch / sleep&dream GmbH). The hall can be visited daily. It is also possible to rent the space for private and commercial events.

Konzepthalle 6 · Scheibenstrasse 6 · 3600 Thun · T +41 (0)33 225 55 75 · [email protected] · www.konzepthalle6.ch

Town Hall and In the past as now, the Thun Town Hall Square is the heart of Town Hall Square many celebrations ranging from the Thunfest and the Old Town concerts to that of the annual Fulehung jester at the Ausschiesset festival. The square is surrounded by various historic buildings: - The 15th-century town hall - The oldest brick house in the city of Thun (now the Hotel Rathaus) dating from the 14th century - The Burgerhaus Thun, a late-baroque building dating from the 18th century - The former Platzschulhaus dating from the 18th century - Two former guild houses (now the Hotel Metzgern and Hotel Krone)

Rathausplatz 3600 Thun

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 7/17 Bellevue Park The Park Hotel des Bains de Bellevue was world renowned during the pioneering days of Alpine tourism in the Bernese Oberland back in the 19th century. This prestigious hotel, which was nestled in a park next to the Aare, welcomed such guests as Emperor Napoleon III, Baron Rothschild, the King and Queen of Holland and Sweden, Felix Mendelson as well as various generals, barons and counts from all over Europe. Today, retirees living at the Tertianum stay in the historic premises of the Bellevue, where cultural events are held on a regular basis as well.

Bellevue-Park Thun Göttibachweg 2 3600 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 227 07 07

Bars

Vinothek Thun Bella Italia can be so close – your journey through the Mediterranean ambience at the Vinothek Thun by the idyllic River Aare and the picturesque Aarequai starts on the spacious terrace. Soak up the Italian culture wherever you go – in the romantic Napoleon Cellar and the charming Blue Chamber as well as at the convivial bar and lively marketplace. Your hosts spare no efforts in ensuring your every need is met, no matter whether it is a fine bottle from the exclusive range of wines or freshly prepared treats from the open kitchen where you can look over the chef’s shoulder as he works his magic.

Vinothek Thun Am Aarequai 56 3600 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 223 56 56 [email protected]

N8Stern Club Our musical concept is very versatile and includes something for everyone. Lovers of Raeggeton, House, RnB, HipHop, Electro, Minimal and Techno are welcome and will hear at least something of their favourite style almost every evening. So even if there is a HipHop concert for example, the evening in general is pretty broadly structured and the programme may also include an in-house DJ. National and international headliners will honour the club with their presence in the future. Admission from 18 years.

Kraftstoff Bar & Here at the Kraftstoff you can enjoy the very finest in sound, from Club A to Z. Depending on the party, you can listen to music from the 70s, 80s and 90s, Ballermann music, Latino, reaggea, ragga and hip hop. We emphasise a range of themes and so we hold parties with dress codes and special acts. The operators are willing to consider hosting different kinds of events and special occasions.

Kraftstoff Bar & Club Thun Untere Hauptgasse 30 3600 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 222 13 13

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 8/17 Sisha Bar This stylish establishment in the Old Town of Thun has been successfully fostering its classic bar culture for many years and was named one of the 101 best bars in Switzerland. The ground floor is home to a trendy coffee bar where the Swiss Barista Champion 2010 serves an excellent espresso and prize-winning cappuccino. Upstairs, the cosy lounge with its plush pillows is the perfect place to take time out and relax. Connoisseurs are thoroughly spoilt in our exclusive smoker's lounge with its wide range of water-pipes, fine cigars and premium spirits (single malts, rum, etc.).

Sisha Bar GmbH Marktgasse 1 3600 Thun [email protected]

City Museums

Thun Panorama The Thun Panorama in Schadau Park is managed by the Thun Art Museum as a deposit for the Gottfried Keller Foundation. This panoramic view of the city of Thun produced between 1809 and 1814 is fascinating not only because of its size but also because of its charm. Even today, its unusual perspective affords viewers an intimate gaze into living rooms, classrooms and streets. Like a gigantic picture book, some 7.5 metres high and 38 metres long, the painting depicts the town’s morning time hustle and bustle in great detail.

Thun-Panorama Schadaupark 3602 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 225 84 20 [email protected]

Thun Art Museum Founded in 1948, the museum runs an exhibition programme featuring both Swiss and international artists. In its special exhibitions focusing on contemporary art, the Thun Art Museum takes up contemporary positions and participates in the current art discourse. The collection is presented in regularly scheduled exhibitions, but is not viewable on a continuous basis.

Kunstmuseum Thun · Hofstettenstrasse 14 · 3602 Thun · T +41 (0)33 225 84 20 · F +41 (0)33 225 89 06 · [email protected] · www.kunstmuseumthun.ch

Swiss The focus of the collection is its unique gastronomic library with Gastronomy over 6,000 titles. The collection is multilingual and includes many Museum rare original editions of contemporary literature dating back to the 16th century. The museum’s copy of Neues Kochbuch für die Krancken from 1545 is an absolute rarity from the early days of the printing press. The Harry Schraemli cabinet is the replica of a small office containing original items from the estate of the founders. Contents include the world’s smallest cookbook, menu cards from important events, and table and kitchen utensils from earlier eras. Pre-registration is required for research in the historical library, and for group visits and historical tours (also available outside of normal opening times).

Schweizerisches Gastronomiemuseum Thun · Schadaustrasse 45 · 3600 Thun · T +41 (0)33 223 14 32 · [email protected] · www.gastronomiemuseum-thun.ch

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 9/17 Toy Museum The Toy Museum Thun was opened in 2005 by a private initiative. Housed in 12 rooms, the collection features a wide range of children’s and games items from between 1850 and 1960: dolls, teddy bears, construction kits, small shops, play kitchens, trains, model cars, toy soldiers, children's books, board games and more. Travel down memory lane and watch your children explore the way their grandparents and great grandparents played. For the perfect family adventure, round off your afternoon of discovery with a visit to the Engel museum café.

Spielzeugmuseum · Burgstrasse 15 · 3600 Thun · T +41 (0)33 221 12 00 · www.spielzeugmuseum- thun.ch

Weaving Museum The museum was founded in 1994 by Terese Leutwyler, a basket weaver, in order to display a wide variety of woven articles and to raise awareness about this "old" profession. In addition to the constantly changing permanent exhibition, there is also an annual special exhibition focusing on a particular theme. The materials used and their varying applications make for a very interesting variety. Visit the museum and see what a traditional French handled basket looks like and view the materials used by weavers in Hungary. The museum is only open on certain weekends and on request.

Flechtmuseum Neufeldstrasse 6 3600 Thun Tel. +41 (0)33 336 32 68

City parks

Bonstetten Park A small wooded area, several avenues and the nearby nature reserve of Gwattlischenmoos are a perfect setting for long walks. The Bonstettengut in Thun/Gwatt is a former manor of the Lords of Strättligen. In a document from 1273 a Rudolf von Strättligen is named as the owner. Emanuel Fischer had the essential core of today's parkland established, with its extensive gardens, between 1763 and 1811. The Bellerive country estate dates from 1764 and has belonged to the canton of Bern and city of Thun since 1960. Today, the Bellerive houses the Musikschule Region Thun.

Gwattstrasse

Schadau Park Schadau Park also has something special for young visitors – children have to find the right way through a maze to get to the amazing playground. A miniature steam train crosses the park every weekend. There is a restaurant in Schadau Castle where tasty treats are served. And if you are not hungry, enjoy a grappa or a coffee as you admire the panoramic view. History fans will appreciate the city panorama painted by Wocher back in the 19th century.

Restaurant Arts Schloss Schadau · Seestrasse 45 · 3600 Thun · T +41 (0)33 222 25 00 · F +41 (0) 33 222 15 80 · [email protected] · www.schloss-schadau.ch

City Tours

© MySwitzerland.com - Schweiz Tourismus - Page 10/17 Tour of the Old Its location by the River Aare and at the west end of Lake Thun Town makes Thun the perfect place to explore and enjoy. The tourist landmark of the city of Thun is the medieval castle that overlooks the city from the Schlossberg. The Stadtkirche (city church) is also located on the Schlossberg, in a prime location and with impressive views of the Alps. The Town Hall Square is the historic centre of the city, and in the Old Town of Thun the raised pavements are unique in Europe. The city’s appeal is not only in its history – a market is held twice a week in Bälliz, Thun’s shopping island. And there is a Mediterranean ambience on the Mühleplatz and the Aarequai. Guided tours for groups on request.