Swiss AlpsThe Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps (Schweizer Alpen, Alpes suisses, Alpi svizzere, Alps svizras), represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss portion of the Jura Mountains, one of its three main physiographic regions. The Swiss Alps extend over both the Western Alps and the Eastern Alps, encompassing an area sometimes called Central Alps.
UnterseenUnterseen is a historic town and a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Unterseen literally means Lower Lake, which is correct, since Unterseen is located on the flat area on the eastern shore of Lake Thun between the two creek Lombach below the Chienberg to the north and the Aare to the south, which both flow into Lake Thun. The historic town however is mainly found at the northern bank of the Aare, which flows here from Lake Brienz to Lake Thun (therefore lower lake).
SpiezSpiez is a town and municipality on the shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern. It is part of the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district. Besides the town of Spiez, the municipality also includes the settlements of Einigen, Hondrich, Faulensee, and Spiezwiler. The official language of Spiez is (the Swiss variety of Standard) German, but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect. Spiez is first mentioned around 761-62 as Spiets.
BrienzBrienz (USbriˈɛnts , briːnts, b̥riə̯nts) is a village and municipality on the northern shore of Lake Brienz, at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain, and in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. Besides the village of Brienz, the municipality includes the settlements of Kienholz and Axalp. Politically, the municipality is located in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district of the canton of Bern. The first settlements date from the neolithic and Bronze Ages.
MürrenMürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland, at an elevation of above sea level and it cannot be reached by public road. It is also one of the popular tourist spots in Switzerland, and summer and winter are the seasons when Mürren becomes busy with tourists. The village features a view of the three towering mountains Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Mürren has a year-round population of 450, but has 2,000 hotel beds. Mürren has its own school and two churches, one Reformed and one Roman Catholic.
BönigenBönigen is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern. It lies on the shore of Lake Brienz, near to the mouth of the river Lütschine, and adjacent to the resort town of Interlaken. Bönigen belongs to the Small Agglomeration Interlaken with 23,300 inhabitants (2014). Bönigen belongs to the church parish of Gsteig bei Interlaken, which includes eight other nearby municipalities. Bönigen is first mentioned in 1261 as villa Boningen.
DärligenDärligen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Därligen is first mentioned in 1244 as Tedningen. The earliest traces of settlement in the area are scattered Bronze Age artifacts which have been discovered near the lake shore. The village was part of the Herrschaft of Unspunnen during the Middle Ages. It was annexed by Bern in 1515. The Bödelibahn railway from Därligen to Interlaken opened in 1872 and was extended to Bönigen in 1874.
GsteigwilerGsteigwiler is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Gsteigwiler belongs to the Small Agglomeration Interlaken with 23,300 inhabitants (2014). Gsteigwiler is first mentioned in 1333 as Wiler. The village first appears during the Middle Ages when it was owned by local nobles. In 1310 they donated the village to Interlaken Abbey. It remained in the hands of the Abbey until Bern accepted the Protestant Reformation and secularized the Abbey in 1528.
AareThe Aare (ˈaːrə) or Aar (aːr) is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descends , draining an area of , almost entirely within Switzerland, and accounting for close to half the area of the country, including all of Central Switzerland. There are more than 40 hydroelectric plants along the course of the Aare.
InnertkirchenInnertkirchen is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On 1 January 2014 the former municipality of Gadmen merged into the municipality of Innertkirchen. The name of the municipality is of recent origin and first appeared in print in 1834. It was formed from the farming settlements (Bäuerten) of Grund, Bottigen, Wyler-Schattseite, Wyler-Sonnseite and the agricultural cooperative of Äppigen.
