Brienz

Dorp · Interlaken, 🇨🇭 Zwitserland

Brienz is a village on the north shore of Lake Brienz, a long turquoise lake in the Bernese Oberland. Old wooden houses line the lakefront. Steep mountains rise behind the village.

Brienz is known for wood carving. It is also the base for the Brienzer Rothorn steam railway and for the Giessbach Falls.

Feestdagen in Zwitserland

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Beste reistijd

May to October is the best time for the lake, the falls and the Rothorn railway. Summer is warm. Autumn is calm and has clear light. Winter is quiet, and many attractions close. The steam railway runs only in summer.

Selecteer een maand

Typisch weer in januari

Matig

4° (gevoelstemperatuur 0°) · extremen -10°–10°
's Nachts -3°
14 regendagen
2 zonnige dagen
3 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 1 · laag

Typisch weer in februari

Matig

6° (gevoelstemperatuur 1°) · extremen -11°–13°
's Nachts -2°
12 regendagen
5 zonnige dagen
4 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 1 · laag

Typisch weer in maart

Matig

10° (gevoelstemperatuur 6°) · extremen -5°–17°
's Nachts 1°
14 regendagen
10 zonnige dagen
6 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 3 · matig

Typisch weer in april

Redelijk

14° (gevoelstemperatuur 11°) · extremen -2°–21°
's Nachts 5°
14 regendagen
10 zonnige dagen
7 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 4 · matig

Typisch weer in mei

Goed

18° (gevoelstemperatuur 16°) · extremen 4°–25°
's Nachts 9°
19 regendagen
8 zonnige dagen
7 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 5 · matig

Typisch weer in juni

Goed

22° · extremen 8°–28°
's Nachts 14°
19 regendagen
10 zonnige dagen
8 uur zonneschijn per dag
Aangename luchtvochtigheid
Rustige wind
UV-index 6 · hoog

Typisch weer in juli

Goed

23° · extremen 10°–29°
's Nachts 15°
18 regendagen
11 zonnige dagen
8 uur zonneschijn per dag
Aangename luchtvochtigheid
Rustige wind
UV-index 6 · hoog

Typisch weer in augustus

Goed

23° (gevoelstemperatuur 24°) · extremen 10°–30°
's Nachts 15°
17 regendagen
12 zonnige dagen
8 uur zonneschijn per dag
Aangename luchtvochtigheid
Rustige wind
UV-index 6 · hoog

Typisch weer in september

Goed

20° (gevoelstemperatuur 19°) · extremen 6°–26°
's Nachts 11°
14 regendagen
10 zonnige dagen
6 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 4 · matig

Typisch weer in oktober

Goed

16° (gevoelstemperatuur 14°) · extremen 2°–23°
's Nachts 8°
13 regendagen
6 zonnige dagen
4 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 2 · laag

Typisch weer in november

Matig

9° (gevoelstemperatuur 6°) · extremen -6°–17°
's Nachts 2°
14 regendagen
2 zonnige dagen
3 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 1 · laag

Typisch weer in december

Matig

5° (gevoelstemperatuur 1°) · extremen -10°–11°
's Nachts -1°
14 regendagen
1 zonnige dag
2 uur zonneschijn per dag
Droge lucht
Rustige wind
UV-index 1 · laag

Klimaatgegevens: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Topbezienswaardigheden

Giessbach Falls is a series of waterfalls above the lake, reached by boat and a historic funicular.
Brienzer Rothorn is a mountain above the village, reached by a steam rack railway.
Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg is a large open-air museum of historic Swiss buildings, a short bus ride away.
Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum Brienz shows the local wood carving craft.
Wildpark Brienz is a small wildlife park with alpine animals.
Die schöne Schifferin von Brienz is a historic ship moored at the lakefront.

Aanbevolen lijsten

Zairon / CC BY-SA 4.0

Brienz Essentials

Brienz sits on the shores of its namesake turquoise lake, defined by a centuries-old woodcarving tradition and the steam-powered Brienz Rothorn Railway. The village features the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, showcasing over 100 historic Swiss buildings, and the multi-tiered Giessbach Falls. Visitors can explore the local wildlife park, founded in 1896, or visit Switzerland's only woodcarving school. Cultural landmarks include memorials to local figures like the dialect poet Albert Streich and the historic skipper Elisabetha Grossmann.

8 plaatsen

Wat te beleven

Ride the steam railway up the Rothorn.
Take a boat to the Giessbach Falls and ride the funicular.
Visit Ballenberg for a day.
Watch a wood carver at work.
Swim or paddle on the lake in summer.
Walk the lakeshore path.

Tours en activiteiten

Brienz — Kaart

Dagtochten

Interlaken is about 20 minutes away by train.
Grindelwald is a mountain village below the Eiger, reached from Interlaken.
Lauterbrunnen is a valley with waterfalls.
Meiringen is about 20 minutes away by train, with gorges and falls.
Lake boats go to Interlaken and other lake villages.

Plaatsen om te ontdekken

Interlaken is the main town of the area and the parent locality.
Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are the nearest mountain villages.

Bereikbaarheid

By air: Zurich is the nearest main airport.
By train: Brienz is on the scenic line between Lucerne and Interlaken. Check times on SBB.
Lake boats stop at Brienz in summer.

Vervoer ter plaatse

The village centre is small and easy to walk.
The Rothorn railway station is next to the main station.
Boats go to Giessbach and other lake villages.
Local buses link Brienz with Ballenberg.

Autorijden

A car is not needed in Brienz.
Parking near the station and the lake is limited in summer.
Roads along the lake are scenic.

Eten en drinken

Try lake fish, cheese and rösti. Brienz is known for wood carving and violin making. Local cafés and lakeside restaurants serve alpine dishes.

People speak German with a Bernese dialect. English is widely understood.

Ontbijt

BirchermüesliA raw-oat, fruit, and yogurt breakfast invented by a Zurich doctor around 1900, now standard on breakfast buffets.

Lunch

RöstiA fried, shredded-potato cake, originally a Bernese farmer's breakfast, now a national side dish.

Diner

Cheese Fondue FondueMelted Gruyère and Vacherin cheese in a shared pot, eaten by dipping bread cubes on long forks.

RacletteCheese melted tableside or under a grill and scraped over boiled potatoes, pickles, and onions.

Zürcher GeschnetzeltesSliced veal and mushrooms in a creamy white-wine sauce, traditionally served with rösti.

ÄlplermagronenAlpine herder's macaroni gratin with potatoes, cheese, and cream, often topped with fried onions and served with apple sauce.

Snacks en streetfood

CervelatSwitzerland's best-known sausage, usually grilled and often called the country's unofficial national dish.

Zoetigheden en desserts

Swiss Chocolate Schweizer SchokoladeSwitzerland pioneered milk chocolate in the 19th century; look for small-batch chocolatiers alongside the big national brands.

Basler LäckerliA dense, spiced honey-and-candied-fruit biscuit from Basel, traditional around Christmas.

Dranken

Swiss Wine Vin SuisseMostly consumed domestically rather than exported; Valais and Vaud, along Lake Geneva, produce the best-known Chasselas whites.

Veiligheid en gezondheid

Brienz is very safe.
Lake water is cold. Swim in marked areas.
Mountain weather changes fast, so check the forecast.
Tap water is safe to drink.

Geschiedenis

Brienz grew as a lakeside village with farming and woodwork. Wood carving grew into a trade in the 19th century, when visitors started to buy carved souvenirs. A carving school was founded in 1884.

The Rothorn steam railway opened in 1892 and still runs today.