Best of Switzerland in 8 Days - Day 3 - Thun Town and Boat Cruise.

Introduction

Our schedule for today was to enjoy our B & B Sun Deck for some time and then set out for a trip to Thun Town, going by Bus and returning by Boat. We cooked our own breakfast and had a leisurely breakfast on the sundeck overlooking the beautiful valley and mighty snow-clad hills. It was a picture postcard setting with occasionally trains also passing over the bridge on the river "Aare" connecting Thun and Brienz Lakes.

We were to explore Thun Town and in return trip by boat from Thun to Interlaken over the full expanse of Thun Lake, enjoy the countryside. Since we were in a bit outer area (10 minutes to Interlaken Ost station), our trip had to start with a local bus trip.

Visiting Thun Town

Taking a bus from our B&B around 10 am we reached Interlaken Ost. We took a direct bus from Interlaken Ost station stop to Thun Bahnhof stop. That brings me to interesting and important information about the transportation system of Switzerland. Most places in Switzerland have all three modes of transport co-located. That means the Railway station, bus stop, and Boat stations are co-located.

Thun is a historical town since roman times (2 BC) when it had a prominent place in Roma Administration. It has also been an important town. In the present day, like most Swiss towns (not cities) Thun also has a population just short of 50 K. It is a small yet beautiful town. There are historical buildings like Thun Castle on the highest point in the town which was built around 1500, Stadtkirche (City Church), Town Hall, and then there is Schloss Schadau (Schadau Palace) on the other side of the Transportation Hub (Railway Station, Bus Stop and Boat Station) built-in 1854 in Gothic Revival Style by a rich merchant for his family. This beautiful palace has huge grounds, one side of which is on the shore of Lake Thun. It is now a hotel and also it is open to visitors, picnickers, and locals alike. 

Let us see this small lovely town. As we walked from the Transport hub onto the streets, we were welcomed by historical buildings (not modern). Here is one such building on the bank of River Aare.

A Historic Building on the town street. River Aare is also seen

Also on our way was this Traffic Island with Musical Instrument Models decorates with flowers. We could see Drum, Saxophone and two more such decorations.

Traffic Island with models Musical instruments decorated with flowers

Another view

The streets had very thin traffic. They were beautiful and had footpaths on both sides. Here is another of the old building on the way/

Another of the old building

After some more walk, we turned into this narrow cobbled street with shops (Turns out, it is the historic shopping street of this town). 

Main Street of Thun. It leads to Townhall

On this street we found a path of stairs going up leading to the Town Church and  Thun Castel.

Taking Rest in the middle of the climb

Old Town Church

Climbing those stairs, we reached the Church first as seen above, and walking a little further throw a narrower lane gave us our first glimpse of Thun Castle.

Thun Castle, first look

Inside the Thun Castle

Church Spire from Thun Castle

Schloss Schadau (Schadau Palace), Its a Hotel and a Restaurent now

Schloss Schadau Forecourt

Schloss Schadau, A watch Tower

This place has a huge garden

Roses are Rosy

Schloss Schadau Garden

Arrangements to make Barbecue

In Thun Lake adjoining Schloss Schadau

Boat Cruise, Thun - Interlaken West

After finishing our tour of this small and charming Thun town, we boarded a boat from the Transport Hub (I did this naming because they are co-located, whereas actually they are called Bus Station, Railway Station, and Boat Station) for a trip from Thun to Interlaken West through Thun lake, a trip across the full lake. This trip takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes with about 10 stips between these two terminal stations.

The boat was very comfortable and it being Switzerland, the weather was comfortable. That made sitting in open a pleasure.

Sun Bathing in the boat

On the Fox'el (Front Part) of the Boat, Schloss Schadau in the background

Schloss Schadau from the boat

A castle at the foot of the mountains

There are 4 services a day from Thum to Interlaken West and 4 from Interlaken West to Thun. The boat has 10 stops between these two towns but not every service stops at every port. There are three Major stops that every service has to take.

Clock Tower

One of the Lake side Hotel

Oberhofen Castle

A colorful Castle, also a boat station

The boats also have enclosed areas and a cafeteria to cater to passenger's needs. There are also toilets available (its a norm in Europe, even long-distance buses also have toilets)

Spiez Castle

One more

A boat passing in the opposite direction

Look at the Tunneling for the road. This is Interlaken - Thun Route for Buses

An old Castle in Interlaken Town

In about two hours we reached Interlaken West Jetty. From there we took a stroll through busy Interlaken main street to Interlaken East station. We also saw an old Castle and monastery in Interlaken about which we were not aware. That was a surprise find for us. This Monastery dates back to 11th century and has had its fortunes changing from time to time. A castle got added to it in 16th century. Now the whole complex is an administrative office of this region.

This was a long and tiring day with a lot of walking and exposure to the sun (even during our boat trip). After visiting Interlaken Monastery, we returned back to Interlaken Ost station, did our essential purchases from the Coop store at the station, and took a bus back to our B & B. It was rest, dinner and sleep time tehreafter.

Best of Switzerland in 8 days - Day 2 - Jungfrau, the Top of Europe.

 Before we started the Trip

We were tired the previous night hence were not bothered to look around Interlaken and returned to our B&B. we managed our dinner and slept. Morning awaited yet another Wow moment happened for us right there at our B&B. We got up as usual at about 7. Finished our morning routine, got ready and came down to prepare and have our breakfast. 

As we got our breakfast ready and stepped out to the open deck of the house. There it was, a huge expanse of the landscape so beautiful, it looked as if we were watching a dream. Aare river, Railway bridge, a small village across the river, green meadows and snow-clad Mountains with clear blue sky with few white clouds.

Don't believe us, see for yourself in the picture(s) below.

Sun, Clouds and a SnowClad peak, this deck was a heven

Another Spot

They were painted like Easter Eggs but were simply Boiled eggs

For the sake of disbelievers, here is one with the shell removed partially

Make Hey till Sun Shines

But for sightseeing, I would have been on the lounger the whole day, watching this

Closer to our B & B, a Picture Postcard Village

Interlaken - Jungfrau Travel Information

After finishing our breakfast in a dream environment, we set out for our journey. Where we lived, the first and the last step of every journey that we undertook had to be to take a bus to Interlaken Ost station or take a bus from Interlaken Ost station to our place. 

After boarding the bus, we reached Interlaken Ost station in about 10 minutes journey. We purchased tickets for our travel to Jungfrau (Swiss Rail Pass holders get a 25% discount on the fare) and took our train to Grindelwald. We changed the train here and took another train to Kleine Scheideeg. The world's highest mountain train travels between Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch via Eigergletscher (Eiger Glacier) station. Jungfraujoch station is actually in a tunnel that is about 2 km long.

Kleine Scheidegg, Your date with legendry Jungfrau Railway starts from here

Kleine Scheidegg Station - Long Shot

It is also possible to travel to Jungfrau from Interlaken Ost via Lauterbrunnen. In that case, one has to switch train at Laturbrunnen for Kleine Scheidegg and then get on to the mountain train to Jungfraujoch. When one books a journey ticket on Interlaken - Jungfrau circuit, one is free to travel via Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. 

What is generally done is, Go via one place and return via another. One has to be only mindful while taking a train from Interlake to find the right coach (depending on which way one wants to travel, via Grindelwald or via Lauterbrunnen) and sit in that coach because this train splits into two at Zweilutschinen with half of it going to one place and the other half to the other.

Nowadays there is a cable car between Grindelwald Terminal (one stop short of Grindelwald station) and  Eigergletscher for Jungfrau. It was not there when we visited this place two years ago.

The full fare ticket from Interlaken Ost for a return journey is around 210 Swiss Franks per person. The Swiss rail pass holders get a 25% discount and the half fare cardholders get a 50% discount (Half fare card is widely used by Swiss people. This card gets them a concession of 50 % on every ticket in any transport). As for the Swiss Rail pass, most transport is free but few mountain rail systems give only 25% concession. Swiss rail pass gives free access to two mountains.

Travel Experience

The semi-urban landscape of Interlaken soon gives way to a scenic Swiss village kind of landscape. The beauty of the landscape keeps getting better and better as one approaches Kleine Sceidegg. From this place, one is in the lap of the Swiss Alps, an ultimate experience. We took the Grindelwald route to go up while used the Lauterbrunnen route to return.

22 days across Europe gave us lot of tan

Initial Landscape

Gaining Height a bit, Snow clad peak

Further up

A Village enroute

Another One

Snow Everywhere

Adventerurs 

At Jungfrau.

Jungfrau all-weather station has a climate-controlled building with Multiple restaurants (including an Indian restaurant), a Lindt chocolate shop and its top floor gives the visitors a 360 panoramic view of Jungfrau and its snowclad mountains. As far as one can see, one sees snow and that is the scene all the year-round. There there is an ice tunnel with Ice sculptures, etc and then there is an area where you can do Ziplining from a high tower to the snowfield as also do sledging and other snowbound activities. 

Arrived - Jungfraujoch Station

Man;s Best Friend, At the Observation Deck

The Observation Deck

Itna Snow, oh my God!

Sledge pe Photu

Odd man, Opps Peak out, No Snow

Fun Time, Many such Statues existed in one of the tunnel

Snowcovered Jungfrau Station - A Photo

In the Ice Tunnel

Ice Tunnel

Polar Bear- Carved out of the Snow

Characters of a Story, In Ice

Photo Point, with Main Building and Weather Station in the background

Babies day out (if we could be called so)

Walking on the Snow turned Ice is tough

Aab Kya Karna Hai? - What Next? - At Lindt centre

Sheer Rugged Beauty

Handsome Boy (No harm in self praise)

All Set for Zipline

About to be hooked to Zipline

And here is Shreya turned into a small child

Well, Switzerland is costly for even its residents so be ready to find everything including costly, but hey, how many times in your life you are going to visit Jungfrau, let go of your worries about cost and indulge in the pleasure that you want and afford.

We spent about 4 to 5 hours at Jungfrau and then commenced our return rip from Jungfrau to Kleine Scheidegg. From there took another train to Lauterbrunnen and finally from here to Interlaken.

The travel that took the whole day and exposure to strong sun ruled out any further adventure at Interlaken. We choose to return to our B&B as our beautiful deck with mild evening sun looked very inviting.