Brienz – a typically Swiss resort
This picturesque village lies on the eastern, upper shore of the turquoise-hued Lake Brienz. It is famous for its romantic cobblestone-paved Brunngasse and a longstanding wood carving tradition. Brienz is home to wood carving and violin making schools.
Brienz is the starting point for excursions to the Ballenberg Open Air Museum, which gives visitors a taste of rural life in days gone by. Switzerland’s oldest steam cogwheel railway huffs and puffs its way up to the 2244 metre-high Brienz Rothorn peak and panoramic views of the Alps. Attractions on the opposite lake shore include the wild and romantic Giessbach waterfalls and Axalp, a family-friendly ski region in winter and popular hiking destination in summer. A leisurely stroll along Brienz’s pretty traffic-free lake promenade with its small harbours, boat moorings and play areas is always a relaxing experience.