| Interlaken | ||||||||||
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| Population | 5,577 (December 2007) | |||||||||
| - Density | 1,268 /km2 (3,283 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 568 m (1,864 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 3800 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0588 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Urs Graf (Social Democratic Party of Switzerland) | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Bönigen, Därligen, Matten bei Interlaken, Ringgenberg, Unterseen | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Scottsdale (USA), Ōtsu (Japan), Třeboň (Czech Republic) | |||||||||
| Website | www.interlaken-gemeinde.ch SFSO statistics |
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  Interlaken
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Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.
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Until 1891 Interlaken was known as Aarmühle.[1] The original importance of the town was as the site of a convent of the Augustinian Canons; the convent was built in 1130 and lasted until 1528. In the past, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and it remains one of the most popular.
The Aare River flows through the town. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west in the area called Bödeli. The town takes its name from its geographical position between the lakes (in Latin inter lacus).
Interlaken is located at 570 m (1,870 ft) above sea level.
Interlaken has an area of 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 sq mi). Of this area, 26.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 21.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 45.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (6.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[2]
Interlaken has a population (as of 2007) of 5,286, of which 24.0% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 4.5%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (83.4%), with Portugese being second most common ( 3.9%) and Italian being third ( 2.8%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 29.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (21.3%), the FDP (18.7%) and the Green Party (11.6%).
The age distribution of the population (as of 2000) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 19.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 63.1% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.6%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Interlaken about 69.2% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).
Interlaken has an unemployment rate of 3.86%. As of 2005, there were 28 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 6 businesses involved in this sector. 742 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 76 businesses in this sector. 4,935 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 535 businesses in this sector.[2] The historical population is given in the following table:[1]
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1764 | 397 |
| 1850 | 1,054 |
| 1900 | 2,962 |
| 1950 | 4,368 |
| 2000 | 5,119 |
Interlaken is frequently visited by adventure-seeking backpackers throughout the year. Interlaken is home to numerous backpacker-friendly hostels and companies that provide guided services in skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing.
The town offers tourists a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding areas by train or bus. However, the main attraction is probably the magnificent Jungfrau (4,158 m (13,642 ft)) and the nearby Jungfraujoch railway station (3,450 m (11,319 ft)). Many hotels are located along the Höheweg avenue which offer good views of the mountains. Mystery Park, a paranormal-based theme park owned by Erich von Däniken, was closed in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties but re-opened in 2009[3].
Despite its small size, the town features two railway stations Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West and two funicular railways, the Harderbahn and the Heimwehfluhbahn. Train connections in Interlaken serve the Jungfrau region via the Berner Oberland Bahn, with the narrow-gauge lines of the Zentralbahn extending over the Brünig Pass to Luzern. The main line connects Interlaken with the cities of Spiez, Thun and Bern. There are also regular bus links to the neighbouring town of Thun. Boat services across Lake Brienz to Brienz and across Lake Thun to Spiez and Thun are operated by BLS Lötschbergbahn.
| Climate data for Interlaken | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 1.9 (35) |
4.3 (40) |
8.5 (47) |
12.8 (55) |
17.3 (63) |
20.4 (69) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
18.8 (66) |
13.8 (57) |
7.1 (45) |
2.7 (37) |
12.7 (55) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | -1.2 (30) |
0.4 (33) |
3.6 (38) |
7.4 (45) |
11.6 (53) |
14.7 (58) |
16.9 (62) |
15.9 (61) |
13.1 (56) |
8.5 (47) |
3 (37) |
-0.4 (31) |
7.8 (46) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -4.1 (25) |
-3.1 (26) |
-0.7 (31) |
2.6 (37) |
6.5 (44) |
9.7 (49) |
11.9 (53) |
11.4 (53) |
8.7 (48) |
4.6 (40) |
0 (32) |
-3.1 (26) |
3.7 (39) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 75 (2.95) |
76 (2.99) |
85 (3.35) |
89 (3.5) |
109 (4.29) |
139 (5.47) |
128 (5.04) |
145 (5.71) |
81 (3.19) |
78 (3.07) |
90 (3.54) |
80 (3.15) |
1,174 (46.22) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 10.1 | 9.6 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 12.8 | 13.5 | 9 | 8.4 | 10 | 10.1 | 135.5 |
| Source: MeteoSchweiz [4] 8 May 2009 | |||||||||||||
Interlaken [1] is a small city in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. Located between two Alpine Lakes (Brienz and Thun), Interlaken is a popular base camp for outdoor sports and travel in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps. Interlaken itself is a superb holiday destination.
Trains arrive frequently from Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Berne and Luzern. Connection at Spiez provides access to canton Valais and to Italy via Lotschberg and Simplon tunnels.
There are two stations: Interlaken Ost (east) and Interlaken West, the latter is closer to the city centre. Most trains stop at both stations, except for trains to Luzern and the trains to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald which stop only at Ost station.
- By car, follow Autoroute A8 (former N8) into the city center.
By bus. Bus2alps [3] operates direct private bus's from Florence, Rome, Paris and Munich to Interlaken. Timetables do vary but are busiest in February and March to cater for winter sport activities. Travel and accommodation packages are available and small and big groups are catered for.
Interlaken is small enough to get around on foot or bikes. Taxis are available from either train station and most hotels. With the guest card from your hotel, you can travel around Interlaken for free (it also gives discounts to local tourist attractions). Sightseeing Tours provided also in english by Panda1 [4]
All year round: Shopping in Interlaken's souvenir shops.
In summer:
In winter:
Interlaken has the highest concentration of souvenir shops in Switzerland.
Interlaken is a good place to buy Swiss Army Knives. One of the best shops is the "Swiss Knife Center" (Höheweg 125) as it stocks the full range of Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army Knives. Other knife shops in Interlaken are "ALSCHER", "Bühler Chalet Shop", "Royal St Georges Gift Shop", "Gallerie Metropole", and "Balmers Hostel Shop".
Remember to pack your swiss army knives in hold luggage.
If you may be wanting to purchase a Swiss Woodcarving, go to Brienz (about 30 minutes on train from Interlaken Ost), which is the centre for Swiss woodcarving.
Bebbis Restaurant (Bahnhofstrasse), [11]. A popular but touristy place for traditional swiss dishes including fondue and raclette. It´s right next to Interlaken West train station.
If you're into Korean food there is an excellent, cheap and easy-going restaurant in a hot basement opposite the train station Interlaken West. Star serves simple and good korean food like hot pots and sweet dumplings. Prices are below average for Interlaken.
Kang Chon Central, Centralstrasse 13, near Interlaken West station, also serves a range of delicious Korean dishes at reasonable prices, including a range of traditional Korean accompaniments with your meal. The staff are friendly and helpful, explaining any menu items that you may not be familiar with, and the ambience of the restaurant is very pleasant, especially on summer evenings.
Interlaken's Best Kept Secret (not any more!) is My Little Thai, Huptstrasse, Matten located next to Balmer's. Fantastic Thai food at very good prices keeps this little gem packed all day and night. Reservation's are highly recommended for evening eating and take away is available.
El Azteca [12] is an authentic Mexican food restaurant owned and operated by a gentleman who migrated from Mexico around 1984. Located on the street level of Hotel Blume in a street mall on the west side of town (Jungfraustr.), it is small, and very friendly. The staff will go above and beyond to help you celebrate birthdays and other events. Groups up to 25, and a bar that can seat about 10 more. Prices are quite high if you're used to paying for Mexican food in the USA, but considering everything is imported, it is understandable. All the best Mexican beers, and top notch Mexican cuisine. Open 17.30 - 23.30.
For a small Swiss town, Interlaken has quite the nightlife options, including one of Switzerland's three Hooters Bar & Restaurant. Most of these bars serve the seasonal tide of tourists, but off the main road, many more mellow local venues can be found. Try the Brasserie 17 (Rosenstr. 17) which has a nice summer terrace,good beer and snacks and sometimes live music.
The two best nightlife spots in town are Balmer's hostel and the Funny Farm, which are located fairly close to each other (both at Hauptstrasse, Matten). Balmers has a decent underground bar and dance club and the Funny Farm has great outdoor chill out areas, including a bonfire. Both hostels have good happy hour specials, and you can kind of bounce back and forth between the two to get your drink for the best price.
Rugenbrau 'lager hell': the local beer and one of the best you'll ever taste as the water in the area is the cleanest in Europe.
Reservations are a must during the busy summer season. Note that not all hotels are open all year round.
x-Port Pizzeria GmbH, Hauptstrasse 21, 3800 Matten High Speed Internet access Terminals and Notebook connection through our LAN available, (Laserprinting Facilities) Try the kitchen while surfing the net (sFr. 5.-- per hour)
Internetcafe Funrental.Hauptstrasse 19 Matten / Interlaken Take Bus no 5 to Hotel Sonne. Walk 1 minute towards Interlaken and you see 3 Flags and lots of funny rental vehicles and also a Thai restaurant next to the street. On 6 high speed computers you can surf ,download, transfer pictures to USB drive, bring your CD or DVD to burn. Hotspot community. Use webcam and headset to connect Skype. Print scan your papers and sent per mail. Watch you favorite Tv channel on the computer. Cheapest and best Internetcafe in Town only sFr.6.- or €4 per hour.Recommended by Lets Go 2007. New Laundry place. Surf while you wash!
McDonalds (150 m from the train station) offers 30 minutes of free WLAN internet access.
Check yor e-mail while you use the new washing machine and dryer. Enjoy fresh and healthy Thai Food. Book all you activities rent bikes scooter quads funcar and motorcycle for the best price and quality in town.
Trains up into the Jungfrau region leave from Interlaken East station. Nearby destinations include:
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INTERLAKEN, a Swiss town (1864 ft.) in the canton of Berne, situated on the flat plain (Bodeli) between the lakes of Brienz (E.) and of Thun (W.), and connected by steamer, as well as by railway (171 m.) with the town of Thun. It is built on the left bank of the Aar, and grew up around the religious house of Austin Canons, founded about 1130 and suppressed in 1528. In the surviving buildings of the convent religious services (Anglican, Scottish Presbyterian and French Protestant) are now held, while the more modern castle is occupied by offices of the Cantonal Government. The fine and well-shaded avenue called the Hdheweg runs through the main portion of the town, and is lined on the north side by a succession of huge hotels and the large Kursaal. Interlaken is much frequented in summer, partly because of the glorious view of the Jungfrau (13,669 ft.) which it commands to the south, and partly because it is the best starting-point for many excursions, as to Schynige Platte, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. The lines serving these places all start from the eastern railway station (that from Thun reaches the western or main railway station), whence steamers depart for the Giessbach Falls, Brienz and Meiringen, on the way to Lucerne or to the Grimsel Pass. In 1900 the population of Interlaken was 2962 (mainly Protestant and Germanspeaking). Opposite Interlaken, and on the right bank of the Aar is Unterseen (in 1900, 2607 inhabitants), which was built in 1280 by Berthold von Eschenbach.
See Fontes serum Bernensium (original documents up to 1366) (8 vols., Berne, 1883-1903); Die Regesten des Klosters zu Interlaken (Coire, 1849) E. Tatarinoff, Die Entwickelung der Probstei Interlaken im XIII. Jahrhundert (Schaffhausen, 1892). (W. A. B. C.)
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Coined in 1891 from Latin inter lacus, from its geographical position between the lakes.
Interlaken
   | Municipality of Interlaken - Gemeinde Interlaken - Die Einwohnergemeinde Interlaken heisst Sie «Herzlich Willkommen» |
| | Interlaken - Interlaken : Skiurlaub Schweiz, Sommerurlaub Schweiz, Swiss ski Resorts, Switzerland Travel Advice, Top of Europe |
| | Interlaken Photo Gallery - Interlaken :: Sabin Photo Gallery - Travel Pictures - Poze |
| | Photogallerys Bernese Oberland - Interlaken, Jungfrau, Haslital |
| | A 360° 'virtual reality panorama of the old part of Interlaken - http://www.europanoramas.eu/interlaken.htm |
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