A Day in Spiez, The Most Beautiful Bay in Europe

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Our First German Blogpost

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Dear Hidden Switzerland Travel Reader,

For a few months friends have been saying to me: 'Colin, you should really make a German series for the Hidden Switzerland Travel Blog! That is great learning.' I was resistent... but here we are..

If you are a native German speaker this new series is possibly a bit boring. I am learning German and its not really so great but I have finally have the confidence to write (at least a little bit) in German. I am sorry! You can always read the English version of this text (no judgements). But, I live in German speaking Switzerland and I think it is really important for me to make an attempt in German.

Today is a new day for the Hidden Switzerland Travel Blog. My first attempt entirely in German.

I have thought a lot about where this series should go. I am still not entirely sure but for today we start with an easy theme, our favorite trips and places that are a bit small for an entire post but are, nonetheless, very cool.

After many day trip in the last two years, it is not really that easy to choose a favorite trip but a few places do come to mind.

This week we are in Spiez.

Thanks for joining us!

The Prettiest Bay in All of Europe

I've already mentioned Spiez a few times in the blog, but really only for the connecting trains. That's not really fair. For being quite small, Spiez has a lot to offer.

Between the Middle Ages and the 20th century, Spiez was a vacation resort. First for the local and Bernese patrician families, later for Victorian tourists in the many lakeside hotels. In the 21st century, Spiez missed out on the extreme sports trend in the Berner Oberland and, with that, the crowds of tourists who pack nearby Interlaken. There is no old town center or large tourist infrastructure in Spiez. Only a few old Victorian hotels remain, most of which are now used for other purposes.

Over the last few decades, Spiez has become a regional center and is, in my opinion, the true Switzerland. Functional and charming. There are still a few nice hotels and, with Migros, Coop, and a few other stores (inclusive of a very good cheese shop and a really great pastry shop), everything someone needs without the tourist shops and international restaurants (with the exception of Italian restaurants which Spiez seems to have in high quantities). But no one comes to Spiez for Cheese or Pizza but for the same reason generations of Swiss have, peace and unbelievable views.

After getting off the train at the station and descending a few steps, the view is impressive. Spiez is a large bowl with the railroad station to the west, a hill to the north (with the Spiez vineyards) and south, a bay on Lake Thun to the east with the large peak Niederhorn above the lake, and a beautiful castle at the corner of the bay. Niesen, the Swiss pyramid, towers behind you.

To the south of Spiez, the iconic Bernese Alps with the Schreckhorn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are visible on a clear day. A true wonder.

View from the Spiez Train Station

Das Spiez Experience

The first stop in Spiez is clear. The path to the bay is a bit steep, but that's not really a problem because it's always downhill. In the bay there is a playground, mini golf, paddleboard and canoe rental, a few nice restaurants. The best part is the many goats munching on the green grass.

The bay really is the heart of Spiez. The cozy beach bar at the end of the bay is a great place for a summer aperitif and, every summer, the famous Seaside Festival comes here, bringing big bands and thousands of people.

View of Spiez Bay from the Castle

With lots of sail boats, palm trees and the big steamship Blümlisalp coming and going, the bay is usually really nice and quiet. My favorite activity here in Spiez Bay is a short paddle on the water. In my opinion it gives the best perspective of the mountains and the whole town.

On the water in Spiez Bay

To the Castle

From the bay you can choose between a nice walk to the next village Faulensee along the lake or you can go up to the castle garden and museum. Both options are great. For a short walk (and because the path to Faulensee is the topic for an upcoming post) we will head to the castle.

The castle was founded around the year 1200 next to an even older Romanesque church, which is still there. The church is a popular space for weddings with over three weddings a day on a busy summer weekend! The church was built around the year 1000 and has really beautiful old frescoes from the Middle Ages (similar to other old churches in the lower Simmental and Lake Thun region).

The Romanesque Church in Spiez

Today, the castle is a conference center, café and large museum about the castle's inhabitants and Spiez's history. Much larger inside than it appears from the outside, the literal and figurative museum high point is the castle tower with a beautiful view of Lake Thun, Spiez Bay, and the mountains.

There really are good views everywhere in the vicinity of the castle. Between the castle and the church is a terrace with a great view over a small beach below the castle. The small garden in front of the old castle moat also has nice views over the bay.

Looking up at Schloss Spiez

Good Views All Around

From the castle gardens, take a steep path to the beach for a short summer swim. Otherwise, you can follow the hiking trail signs to Spiezberg and the beautiful Spiez vineyards. With plenty of benches, the Spiez vineyards are about the most beautiful place in the whole of Switzerland for a break. Take a glass of Spiez wine with you and you're set for the afternoon.

The Spiezberg forest above the vineyards is really not that special (the two hills of Spiezburg on the other side offer more), but it has viewpoints of the lake and shady paths in summer.

Exploring the rest of Spiez is a good idea. There are different and beautiful views around every corner. With very good public transport, Spiez is a perfect place for exploring the Berner Oberland and is, in many ways, much more beautiful and well connected than Interlaken.

Spiez is definitely worth a stop on your next trip.

Thanks for reading this short episode in Spiez, the first German post from Hidden Switzerland Travel. For other posts in this series, check out our “Deutsch? Klar!” page. If you like this post, you might also like the other posts in our English series, “Discovering Bern”. Until next time, have a good trip!

View from the Spiez Vineyards