Alp Botchen - Cultural Landscape Award 2014

As famous as the Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz are, the upper reaches of the Wildbach stream quite wrongly attract little attention. Nevertheless, the stream flows through an exceptionally picturesque landscape that is also accessed by a very attractive hiking trail. To the west of Axalp, the Wildbach runs through remote landscapes that are very different in character. This superb mix of wilderness and cultural landscape can be experienced in impressive fashion on a circular hike.

The hike starts at Bramisegg, halfway between Brienz and Axalp. A moderately steep forest road leads into the Giessbachtal (valley), however because of the danger of falling rock - particularly in spring - another route is signposted on the slightly higher forest road. At the far end of the little valley, the trail climbs steeply again to overcome the next step in the terrain. On leaving the forest, you reach Alp Botchen - a tiny, tranquil paradise - a green basin surrounded by rocky slopes.

On the other side of the stream, an uneven, sometimes heavily washed-out path leads up to Botchenhals before going slightly downhill to Schartenboden, after which it branches off again downhill to the Bauwald (forest) below the Staatshütte. The forest is crossed on a well-made, winding forest road. A narrow, steep and sometimes rather exposed path leads back to the Giessbachtal. As an alternative you can use the road that takes you to the back of the valley bottom. Return to the starting point at Bramisegg is via Uti and Schweibenalp.

Note(s)
The annual Cultural Landscape Award is presented to particularly beautiful and valuable cultural landscapes in the Oberland Ost region. Through support and image cultivation on the part of tourism, the award is intended to give farmers a small incentive to continue sustainable management and thus contribute to preserving the beauty of our natural world.

Want to discover yet more hiking trails?
Learn more about the various hiking opportunities in the Bernese Oberland.

Internet Cultural Landscape Award:
www.kulturlandschaftspreis.ch