Brienz, Switzerland

Brienz, Switzerland, on the bank of Lake Brienz
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5583_-_Brienz.JPG
Author: Andrew Bossi


Brienz is a small village on the east side of Lake Brienz, in Bern canton, Switzerland. The village covers 48 sq km (18.5 sq mi) and has a population of 3,000 (2011 estimate). The local industries in Brienz are wood carving and violin making. There are shops in the village that sells the woodcarvings made by the crafts people of Brienz. The village also has a wood carving school, Schule für Holzbildhauerei. Visitors are welcome to observe how the students learn the craft and view samples of their work.

The other noted industry in Brienz is violin making. It too has a school, Geigenbauschule, where violin makers learn their craft. Visitors to the school can learn a bit about how violins are made and see a display of some of the instruments produced by its students.

The earliest mention of Brienz in history was made in 1146. The area has been inhabited since 1,500 BC. Celtic tribes settled there in the 5th BC while the Romans conquered the area at the end of the 1st century BC. They in turn were replaced by the Alamanni in AD 259.

Brienz main street
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5562_-_Brienz_-_Hauptstrasse.JPG
Author: Andrew Bossi

Visiting Brienz

Trains from the Interlaken Ost railway station as well as trains from Lucerne stop at Brienz. Train ride from Interlaken is half an hour. That same journey by boat takes 90 minutes. If you base yourself in Interlaken, you can rent a motorcycle or scooter to visit Brienz and explore the surrounding places.

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