ViaJacobi
Overview
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Distance 30 km
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Duration 8 h 15 min
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Ascent 860 m
Intro
Brünig offers a magnificent mountain panorama with the high Bernese Oberland summits and eternal snow. The trail leads along sunny slopes above the Brienzersee lake, allowing you to experience an exceptionally lovely landscape.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-4/stage-9
Description
The Brünig Pass connects Lucerne and Obwalden with the Bernese Oberland and the two major passes of Susten and Grimsel. There is a pass road that remains accessible all year round and a cog railway over the pass. The landscape was formed by a side arm of the Aargletscher glacier and is scattered with big boulders of granite and gneiss. The pass near the resort village of Hasliberg is also known for its year-round Swiss wrestling (Schwingen) competition, the Brünigschwinget.
A short distance from the start, the hiking route diverges from the pass road. After the clearing at Brääch, the route dives into the Uochwald forest. Make sure to take a look back over the valley around Meiringen. After this, you will follow a beautiful path leading to the Dorfbach stream. You will then pass through the villages of Brienzwiler, Hofstetten b. Brienz and Brienz itself. Lake Brienz is tucked between the Emmental and Bernese Alps. Due to sediment particles, the glacial water of the Aare and the river Lütschine that flow into the lake, its water is a brilliant turquoise colour. The colour is particularly intense in spring and autumn.
Leave the woodcarving village of Brienz along the lake shore. The climb here features many fantastic views. After the Wychelwald wood, the path drops down to the lake. The next village is Oberried, nestled between the Augstmatthorn mountain and the lake. Now you have another chance to enjoy the glorious view of turquoise Lake Brienz and the mountains before reaching your destination. Soon you will arrive at Niederried b. Interlaken and, shortly afterwards, Ringgenberg. The Way of St. James in Ringgenberg was once an important link between the “Bödeli” tongue of land and Brienz. It connects Bern with the Alpine passes of Grimsel, Brünig and Susten and joins the Bernese Oberland with Central Switzerland. The ravine in Ringgenberg, which contains the longest continuous stretch of dry stone wall, is the centrepiece of the Way of St. James by Lake Brienz. Old rows of trees and hedges line the path.
A little further on, you will come across the ruined castled in Ringgenberg, the village’s landmark. 52 steps lead up to the viewing tower at a height of 12 metres. Then follow the canalised section of the Aare River at Interlaken until you reach Interlaken West railway station. Shortly before you reach the railway bridge, the peaks of the Jungfrau mountain are visible in the distance. And just before you reach your destination, you will pass the “Haberdarre” transshipment point: before the gates of Unterseen is a place where grains such as oats (“Haber” as they were known) were dried and animals were slaughtered back in the Middle Ages. Ships and rafts for transporting cargo between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun also docked here.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Brünigpass
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Interlaken
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
860 m
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| Descent |
1300 m
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| Distance |
30 km
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| Duration |
8 h 15 min
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| Duration back |
8 h 45 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
May - September
|
| Theme |
Along Water, With panoramic view, Over a pass
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
