Mountainbiking
Sigriswil
Sigriswil
Sigriswil
Sigriswil is situated on a sunny terrace above the north shore of the Thunersee (Lake Thun), with panoramic views of the Alps. Agricultural traditions in the Justistal marry with the Mediterranean climate at the lakeside.
The municipality extends from the shore of the Thunersee (Lake Thun) at 560m altitude across south-facing meadows and forest up to the Sigriswilergrat ridge with the 2051-metre-high Rothorn peak. The largest municipality in the Thun district has an area of 55 square miles and encompasses 11 villages, of which Merligen, Gunten, Schwanden and the main village Sigriswil are the best known.
An unimpeded view of the Bernese peaks and Lake Thun makes Sigriswil a popular excursion destination and place to live. Hikes through almost untouched flora and fauna lead into the steeply indented Justistal valley or up to the craggy Sigriswilergrat ridge. Ibex and chamois can often be sighted. Cyclists enjoy panoramic roads and snow permitting, facilities for winter activities include pistes with ski lift access in Schwanden and Sigriswil and prepared cross-country skiing trails in Schwanden and the Justistal.
The municipality has a strong agricultural identity and farming traditions are still kept. The tradition of «Chästeilet» or distribution of cheeses in the Justistal has been held for 250 years. This is a festival in which cheese produced during the summer grazing months is taken out, piled up and then divided amongst the farmers. The custom is accompanied by yodelling and traditional accordion music.
The lake shore at Merligen faces south, has a mild climate and is known as the «Thunersee Riviera». Two lidos (at Merligen and Gunten) and two mineral spa baths (at Merligen and Sigriswil), the palm tree-lined shore and water sports such as diving, sailing, wind-surfing and waterskiing lend a Mediterranean ambiance. Gunten and Merligen are landing stages for the nostalgic paddle steamer Blüemlisalp.
A scenic pilgrims’ path leads in around 75-90 minutes from the Merligen boat landing stage to the entrance of the St. Beatus Caves with their stunning dripstone formations, caverns and waterfalls. Formed in over 6 million years and the home of sixth-century St Beatus, the caves are now one of the most popular excursion destinations around the Thunersee (Lake Thun). A funicular and modern cableway run from the Beatenbucht bay to the Niederhorn at 1954m, a peak that offers panoramic views and is the starting point for summer hikes or family-friendly skiing and sledging fun in winter.
A new attraction opened in Schwanden in 2000: the Sirius Astronomy Centre offers fascinating insights into the night skies and the crater-riddled surface of the moon. The observatory is open to the public and one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland.
An unimpeded view of the Bernese peaks and Lake Thun makes Sigriswil a popular excursion destination and place to live. Hikes through almost untouched flora and fauna lead into the steeply indented Justistal valley or up to the craggy Sigriswilergrat ridge. Ibex and chamois can often be sighted. Cyclists enjoy panoramic roads and snow permitting, facilities for winter activities include pistes with ski lift access in Schwanden and Sigriswil and prepared cross-country skiing trails in Schwanden and the Justistal.
The municipality has a strong agricultural identity and farming traditions are still kept. The tradition of «Chästeilet» or distribution of cheeses in the Justistal has been held for 250 years. This is a festival in which cheese produced during the summer grazing months is taken out, piled up and then divided amongst the farmers. The custom is accompanied by yodelling and traditional accordion music.
The lake shore at Merligen faces south, has a mild climate and is known as the «Thunersee Riviera». Two lidos (at Merligen and Gunten) and two mineral spa baths (at Merligen and Sigriswil), the palm tree-lined shore and water sports such as diving, sailing, wind-surfing and waterskiing lend a Mediterranean ambiance. Gunten and Merligen are landing stages for the nostalgic paddle steamer Blüemlisalp.
A scenic pilgrims’ path leads in around 75-90 minutes from the Merligen boat landing stage to the entrance of the St. Beatus Caves with their stunning dripstone formations, caverns and waterfalls. Formed in over 6 million years and the home of sixth-century St Beatus, the caves are now one of the most popular excursion destinations around the Thunersee (Lake Thun). A funicular and modern cableway run from the Beatenbucht bay to the Niederhorn at 1954m, a peak that offers panoramic views and is the starting point for summer hikes or family-friendly skiing and sledging fun in winter.
A new attraction opened in Schwanden in 2000: the Sirius Astronomy Centre offers fascinating insights into the night skies and the crater-riddled surface of the moon. The observatory is open to the public and one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland.
Highlights
- Grabenmühle Sigriswil: mill in idyllic setting offering gold-panning and trout fishing.
- Sternwarte Sirius: observatory with public access in Schwanden with high-performance telescope and planetarium.
- St. Beatus-Caves: impressive, illuminated dripstone caves with museum, St. Beatus’ cell, prehistoric settlement, dragon slide and other attractions.
- Niederhorn: Excursion mountain and starting point for hikes and winter activities above the ‘sea of fog’.
Sigriswil is situated on a sunny terrace above the north shore of the Thunersee (Lake Thun), with panoramic views of the Alps. Agricultural traditions in the Justistal marry with the Mediterranean climate at the lakeside.
The municipality extends from the shore of the Thunersee (Lake Thun) at 560m altitude across south-facing meadows and forest up to the Sigriswilergrat ridge with the 2051-metre-high Rothorn peak. The largest municipality in the Thun district has an area of 55 square miles and encompasses 11 villages, of which Merligen, Gunten, Schwanden and the main village Sigriswil are the best known.
An unimpeded view of the Bernese peaks and Lake Thun makes Sigriswil a popular excursion destination and place to live. Hikes through almost untouched flora and fauna lead into the steeply indented Justistal valley or up to the craggy Sigriswilergrat ridge. Ibex and chamois can often be sighted. Cyclists enjoy panoramic roads and snow permitting, facilities for winter activities include pistes with ski lift access in Schwanden and Sigriswil and prepared cross-country skiing trails in Schwanden and the Justistal.
The municipality has a strong agricultural identity and farming traditions are still kept. The tradition of «Chästeilet» or distribution of cheeses in the Justistal has been held for 250 years. This is a festival in which cheese produced during the summer grazing months is taken out, piled up and then divided amongst the farmers. The custom is accompanied by yodelling and traditional accordion music.
The lake shore at Merligen faces south, has a mild climate and is known as the «Thunersee Riviera». Two lidos (at Merligen and Gunten) and two mineral spa baths (at Merligen and Sigriswil), the palm tree-lined shore and water sports such as diving, sailing, wind-surfing and waterskiing lend a Mediterranean ambiance. Gunten and Merligen are landing stages for the nostalgic paddle steamer Blüemlisalp.
A scenic pilgrims’ path leads in around 75-90 minutes from the Merligen boat landing stage to the entrance of the St. Beatus Caves with their stunning dripstone formations, caverns and waterfalls. Formed in over 6 million years and the home of sixth-century St Beatus, the caves are now one of the most popular excursion destinations around the Thunersee (Lake Thun). A funicular and modern cableway run from the Beatenbucht bay to the Niederhorn at 1954m, a peak that offers panoramic views and is the starting point for summer hikes or family-friendly skiing and sledging fun in winter.
A new attraction opened in Schwanden in 2000: the Sirius Astronomy Centre offers fascinating insights into the night skies and the crater-riddled surface of the moon. The observatory is open to the public and one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland.
An unimpeded view of the Bernese peaks and Lake Thun makes Sigriswil a popular excursion destination and place to live. Hikes through almost untouched flora and fauna lead into the steeply indented Justistal valley or up to the craggy Sigriswilergrat ridge. Ibex and chamois can often be sighted. Cyclists enjoy panoramic roads and snow permitting, facilities for winter activities include pistes with ski lift access in Schwanden and Sigriswil and prepared cross-country skiing trails in Schwanden and the Justistal.
The municipality has a strong agricultural identity and farming traditions are still kept. The tradition of «Chästeilet» or distribution of cheeses in the Justistal has been held for 250 years. This is a festival in which cheese produced during the summer grazing months is taken out, piled up and then divided amongst the farmers. The custom is accompanied by yodelling and traditional accordion music.
The lake shore at Merligen faces south, has a mild climate and is known as the «Thunersee Riviera». Two lidos (at Merligen and Gunten) and two mineral spa baths (at Merligen and Sigriswil), the palm tree-lined shore and water sports such as diving, sailing, wind-surfing and waterskiing lend a Mediterranean ambiance. Gunten and Merligen are landing stages for the nostalgic paddle steamer Blüemlisalp.
A scenic pilgrims’ path leads in around 75-90 minutes from the Merligen boat landing stage to the entrance of the St. Beatus Caves with their stunning dripstone formations, caverns and waterfalls. Formed in over 6 million years and the home of sixth-century St Beatus, the caves are now one of the most popular excursion destinations around the Thunersee (Lake Thun). A funicular and modern cableway run from the Beatenbucht bay to the Niederhorn at 1954m, a peak that offers panoramic views and is the starting point for summer hikes or family-friendly skiing and sledging fun in winter.
A new attraction opened in Schwanden in 2000: the Sirius Astronomy Centre offers fascinating insights into the night skies and the crater-riddled surface of the moon. The observatory is open to the public and one of the largest of its kind in Switzerland.
Highlights
- Grabenmühle Sigriswil: mill in idyllic setting offering gold-panning and trout fishing.
- Sternwarte Sirius: observatory with public access in Schwanden with high-performance telescope and planetarium.
- St. Beatus-Caves: impressive, illuminated dripstone caves with museum, St. Beatus’ cell, prehistoric settlement, dragon slide and other attractions.
- Niederhorn: Excursion mountain and starting point for hikes and winter activities above the ‘sea of fog’.
