Unterseen
Intro
The only small town in the Bernese Oberland is overshadowed by internationally renowned Interlaken. But Unterseen beckons its guests with its impressive exterior, the pretty old town on the River Aare and the best views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Unterseen at a glance
Unjustly, Unterseen is often forgotten next to the famous Interlaken between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. The town was built on land owned by the Interlaken monastery, which was opposed to the founding of the town and, for centuries, managed to hinder Unterseen’s development. The emergence of tourism in the 19th century brought Unterseen an upswing, but the little town failed to secure direct lake and railway access. Nevertheless, celebrities such as Goethe or the composer Mendelsson Bartholdy stayed here and were won over by the town’s charm.
A must for a visit here is the old town – known as the Stedtli – whose impressive row of houses built directly along the Aare is surpassed only by the church tower and castle, and almost outshines the mountain panorama right behind it. Inside, the delicate rows of houses frame a rectangular square, in the middle of which stands the former town house with a beautiful chestnut tree-lined avenue laid out in front of it. The house was once the centre of public life, serving as a trading centre for everyday goods, as a town hall and as a guesthouse. From the square, the route crosses the Schaalbrücke bridge to the Spielmatten district, the former mill district that now forms the border with Interlaken together with the River Aare. From here, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Stedtli.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
