InterlakenInterlaken is a town and is a town and municipalitymunicipality in the in the Interlaken-Interlaken-OberhasliOberhasli administrative district administrative district in the in the SwissSwiss canton of Berncanton of Bern. The . The town is located on the town is located on the BödeliBödeli, , between between Lake Lake ThunThun and and Lake BrienzLake Brienz, and alongside , and alongside the the Aare riverAare river that flows that flows between the two lakes. between the two lakes. Transport routes to the east Transport routes to the east and west alongside the lakes and west alongside the lakes are complemented by a route are complemented by a route south into the mountains south into the mountains following the following the LütschineLütschine river river. .

HistoryHistory

Until 1891, Interlaken was known Until 1891, Interlaken was known as as AarmühleAarmühle.The convent of the .The convent of the Augustinian CanonsAugustinian Canons was built was built around 1133 when it was around 1133 when it was mentioned as mentioned as inter lacus Madoninter lacus Madon and lasted until 1528. The mill on and lasted until 1528. The mill on the left bank of the the left bank of the AareAare river was river was first mentioned in 1365 as first mentioned in 1365 as AmuliAmuli, , while the town on the right bank while the town on the right bank was mentioned in 1239 as was mentioned in 1239 as villa villa InderlappenInderlappen..

Previously, printing, textiles, and Previously, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent to a smaller extent watchmakingwatchmaking were also of importance, but were also of importance, but today tourism is the most today tourism is the most significant source of income. significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerlandtourist resorts in Switzerland, and , and it remains one of the most it remains one of the most popular.popular.

Rise of tourismRise of tourism

Interlaken's reputation as Interlaken's reputation as international resort started international resort started around 1800 due to the around 1800 due to the landscapes of landscapes of Franz Franz NiklausNiklaus KönigKönig and other and other Swiss landscape artistsSwiss landscape artists. . The success of the The success of the UnspunnenfestUnspunnenfest, a festival of , a festival of Swiss cultureSwiss culture, in , in 1805 and 1808 brought many 1805 and 1808 brought many tourists to Interlaken. Starting in tourists to Interlaken. Starting in 1820, they came for mountain air 1820, they came for mountain air and spa treatment and the large and spa treatment and the large Kursaal opened in 1859 to Kursaal opened in 1859 to provide an elegant spa. The many provide an elegant spa. The many hotels combined with good hotels combined with good transportation links made it easy transportation links made it easy for these early tourists to visit. In for these early tourists to visit. In 1835 a 1835 a steam shipsteam ship route opened route opened along along Lake Lake ThunThun from from ThunThun, , followed in 1839 by another along followed in 1839 by another along Lake BrienzLake Brienz from from BrienzBrienz. .

Modern InterlakenModern Interlaken The frantic growth of the tourism industry abruptly The frantic growth of the tourism industry abruptly

ended in 1914 when ended in 1914 when World War IWorld War I started, though it started, though it resumed somewhat after the war. resumed somewhat after the war. World War IIWorld War II brought another dramatic slow down. Interlaken brought another dramatic slow down. Interlaken started to recover from the started to recover from the effects of the wareffects of the war in 1955 in 1955 as Interlaken re-branded itself as a convention and as Interlaken re-branded itself as a convention and conference center. Today, the two nuclei villages conference center. Today, the two nuclei villages (Aarmühle and the village around the (Aarmühle and the village around the Bailiff's CastleBailiff's Castle) ) have been joined by new construction between them. have been joined by new construction between them. The municipalities of Matten and Unterseen are also The municipalities of Matten and Unterseen are also connected by new construction to Interlaken and connected by new construction to Interlaken and share a common infrastructure. A referendum to share a common infrastructure. A referendum to merge the three political municipalities into one was merge the three political municipalities into one was voted down in 1914 and again in 1927. voted down in 1914 and again in 1927.

TourismTourism

The town is principally a base from which to explore the The town is principally a base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Among the main attractions are the mountains surrounding areas. Among the main attractions are the mountains of the Jungfrau region, including the of the Jungfrau region, including the JungfrauJungfrau, (4,158 m , (4,158 m (13,642 ft)), the (13,642 ft)), the MönchMönch (4,107 m (13,474 ft)) and the (4,107 m (13,474 ft)) and the EigerEiger (3,970 m (13,020 ft)). Whilst the peaks of these mountains are (3,970 m (13,020 ft)). Whilst the peaks of these mountains are accessible only to mountaineers, a sequence of connecting accessible only to mountaineers, a sequence of connecting mountain railwaysmountain railways gives access to the gives access to the JungfraujochJungfraujoch, a , a colcol (3,450 m (3,450 m (11,320 ft)) between the Jungfrau and the Mönch, which is the (11,320 ft)) between the Jungfrau and the Mönch, which is the highest point in Europe reachable by train.highest point in Europe reachable by train.

Closer to Interlaken, the Closer to Interlaken, the Harder Harder KulmKulm (1,322 m (4,337 ft)), just to (1,322 m (4,337 ft)), just to the north of the town, and the the north of the town, and the SchynigeSchynige Platte Platte (2,076 m (6,811 ft)), (2,076 m (6,811 ft)), just to the south, are also accessible by railway, and provide just to the south, are also accessible by railway, and provide extensive views of the higher mountains. extensive views of the higher mountains. Lake Lake ThunThun and and Lake BrienzLake Brienz are both close to the town, and the are both close to the town, and the Aar riverAar river flows flows through the town. Boat trips operate on both lakes, serving various through the town. Boat trips operate on both lakes, serving various lakeside towns. One of these, lakeside towns. One of these, BrienzBrienz, is the starting point for , is the starting point for Switzerland's last remaining Switzerland's last remaining steam operatedsteam operated mountain railway, the mountain railway, the Brienz-Brienz-RothornRothorn railway railway..

TOURISMTOURISM Jungfrau ParkJungfrau Park, an , an amusement parkamusement park, ,

is situated just to the south of is situated just to the south of Interlaken. It was originally opened Interlaken. It was originally opened as Mystery Park, a paranormal-as Mystery Park, a paranormal-based theme park owned by author based theme park owned by author Erich von Erich von DänikenDäniken, but was closed , but was closed in 2006 after three years because in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties. It re-opened of financial difficulties. It re-opened in its current guise in 2009.in its current guise in 2009.

Interlaken has a large selection of Interlaken has a large selection of hotels of various grades, many of hotels of various grades, many of which are located along the which are located along the HöhewegHöheweg, a street that links the , a street that links the towns two railway stations and towns two railway stations and offers views of the mountains. offers views of the mountains. Other hotels are clustered around Other hotels are clustered around one or other of the two stations, or one or other of the two stations, or located across the river in the located across the river in the neighbouring municipality of neighbouring municipality of UnterseenUnterseen..

EventsEvents

In September, the In September, the Jungfrau MarathonJungfrau Marathon starts in Interlaken. starts in Interlaken.

The The UnspunnenfestUnspunnenfest is a festival held is a festival held in Interlaken and the neighbouring in Interlaken and the neighbouring communities of communities of MattenMatten and and WilderswilWilderswil approximately every approximately every twelve years. The festival highlights twelve years. The festival highlights traditional traditional Swiss cultureSwiss culture and features and features competitions of competitions of SteinstossenSteinstossen (stone (stone put), put), SchwingenSchwingen (wrestling) and (wrestling) and yodellingyodelling. The last Unspunnenfest . The last Unspunnenfest was held in September 2006. The was held in September 2006. The next celebration is scheduled for the next celebration is scheduled for the year 2017. year 2017.

On 15 July 2007, the On 15 July 2007, the Red Bull Air Race World SeriesRed Bull Air Race World Series was was held on the held on the airportairport situated near situated near Interlaken. Interlaken.

During Summer, there is the During Summer, there is the Greenfield Music FestivalGreenfield Music Festival on the on the outskirts of Interlaken outskirts of Interlaken

ReligionReligion

From the 2000 census, 1,139 or 22.3% were From the 2000 census, 1,139 or 22.3% were Roman CatholicRoman Catholic, while 2,873 or 56.1% , while 2,873 or 56.1% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there were 83 the rest of the population, there were 83 members of an Orthodox church (or about members of an Orthodox church (or about 1.62% of the population), there were 4 1.62% of the population), there were 4 individuals (or about 0.08% of the population) individuals (or about 0.08% of the population) who belonged to the Christian Catholic who belonged to the Christian Catholic Church, and there were 374 individuals (or Church, and there were 374 individuals (or about 7.31% of the population) who belonged about 7.31% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. to another Christian church.

BBibliographyibliography www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.comwww.ghidturistic.comwww.ghidturistic.com