Interlaken
| Interlaken | ||||||||||
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| Population | 5,700 (December 2006[update]) | |||||||||
| - Density | 1,295 /km² (3,355 /sq.mi.) | |||||||||
| Area | 4.4 km² (1.7 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 568 m (1,864 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 3800 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0588 | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Bönigen, Därligen, Matten bei Interlaken, Ringgenberg, Unterseen | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Scottsdale (USA), Ōtsu (Japan), Třeboň (Czech Republic) | |||||||||
| Website | www.interlaken-gemeinde.ch | |||||||||
  Interlaken
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Interlaken is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.
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Background
The Aare River flows through the town. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west in the area called Bödeli. The town takes its name from its geographical position between the lakes (in Latin inter lacus).
Interlaken is located at 570 meters above sea level. The original importance of the town was as the site of a convent of the Augustinian Canons; the convent was built in 1130 and lasted until 1528. In the past, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and it remains one of the most popular.
Interlaken is frequently visited by adventure-seeking backpackers throughout the year. The town is home to numerous backpacker-friendly hostels and companies that provide guided services in skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing, to name a few.
The town offers tourists a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding areas by train or bus. However, the main attraction is probably the magnificent Jungfrau mountain (4158m). Many hotels are located along the Höheweg avenue which offer good views of the mountains. Mystery Park, a paranormal-based theme park owned by Erich von Däniken, was closed in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties.
Interlaken is all that many visitors ever see of Switzerland, whisked through the country on a rapid lakes-and-mountains tour. The town is perfectly positioned as the gateway into the Oberland, linked into main train routes to and from Bern and Zürich, with branch lines feeding out in all directions into the high Alps nearby. It’s a pleasant enough place, even if bustling and commercial and packed with Swiss-kitsch souvenir shops, and it’s useful for its proximity to the mountains.
The town is situated on the Bödeli, a small alluvial neck of land between the Thunersee and Brienzersee. It’s one of the oldest resorts in the country, famed for its superb views towards the Jungfrau massif, which lies perfectly framed between two hills to the south of town. And that’s pretty much the whole story – history, character and tradition take a back seat to the necessities of providing for the hundreds of thousands of trippers who pass through on their way to more dramatic backdrops.
Despite its small size (population 5,700), the town features two railway stations Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West and two funicular railways, the Harderbahn and the Heimwehfluhbahn. Train connections in Interlaken serve the Jungfrau region via the Berner Oberland Bahn, with the narrow-gauge lines of the Zentralbahn extending over the Brünig Pass to Luzern. The main line connects Interlaken with the cities of Spiez, Thun and Bern. There are also regular bus links to the neighbouring town of Thun. Boat services across Lake Brienz to Brienz and across Lake Thun to Spiez and Thun are operated by BLS Lötschbergbahn.
Gallery
Events
- In September, the Jungfrau Marathon starts in Interlaken.
- The Unspunnenfest is a festival held in Interlaken and the neighbouring communities of Matten and Wilderswil approximately every twelve years. The festival highlights traditional Swiss culture and features competitions of Steinstossen (stone put), Schwingen (wrestling) and yodelling. The last Unspunnenfest was held in September 2006. The next celebration is scheduled for the year 2017.
- On July 15, the Red Bull Air Race World Series was held on the Airport situated near Interlaken.
See also
- Swiss Alps
- Entrelagos
External links
- Official website
- Official website of the municipality (German)
- Interlaken (municipality) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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