Leissigen on Lake Thun: Lake, Trails and Culture

Leissigen is located directly on the shores of Lake Thun and offers views of the surrounding Bernese Alps. Mountains, meadows and forests shape the landscape and give the village a clear connection to the lake and mountain world.

Nature and Trails

An important route through the surrounding area is the Lake Thun Panorama Circular Trail. The route is around 63 kilometres long and is designed as a multi-day hike around Lake Thun. It leads via Därligen to Meielisalp above Leissigen and crosses a suspension bridge at Spissibach. The different route formats – a multi-day circular hike and individual excursion destinations – can be clearly distinguished from one another when planning.

The Leissigen Panorama Bridge is located above the village and is 140 metres long. It is a suspension bridge that is open year-round, around the clock; crossing it is free of charge. You can reach it on foot from Meielisalp or Leissigen, as well as via a hiking trail from Aeschi.

Lake and Leisure

The Leissigen lido is located directly on Lake Thun. It has a non-swimmer area and a raft with a diving board on the lake. Families will also find a toddler pool, a slide and a sandbox. Table tennis and stand-up paddleboard rental are available at the lido.

Water sports activities are possible on Lake Thun from Leissigen, including swimming at the Leissigen lido and stand-up paddling. The leisure and tourism offerings also include the boat harbour, the Leissigen Panorama Bridge, boat trips, surfskiing, the Ferdinand Hodler memorial and local restaurants.

The waterside activities therefore range from spending time at the lido and enjoying your own activities on the lake to boat trips and other excursions. For planning your day, it is helpful to consider the clearly different types of activity separately: longer routes, individual sights and time spent by the water.

Culture and Local History

Leissigen Church is one of the so-called “Twelve Lake Thun Churches”. The present building contains Romanesque masonry and was converted into a Baroque preaching hall in 1675. Excavations from earlier phases of church construction and a bell-casting pit can be viewed inside the church building.

The history of local craftsmanship includes the Alti Sagi Leissigen, the oldest sawmill on Lake Thun. During a guided tour, the old saw and sawmill operations in Leissigen are explained. During visits, the saw runs and cuts timber; the tour demonstrates former working methods as well as the power technologies of water, petrol and electricity.

Leissigen also preserves the character of a former fishing village with traditional wooden chalets. The historic character of the village and its preserved buildings complement the excursion destinations on the lake with an insight into the former settlement and working life.

Ferdinand Hodler Memorial

The Ferdinand Hodler memorial is located above Leissigen on the Finel. It was officially inaugurated in 1953, on the 100th anniversary of Ferdinand Hodler’s birth, as part of a celebration. At this site, Ferdinand Hodler painted the first picture in his series “Landscapes on Lake Thun” in 1904.

The memorial can be visited in Leissigen and is one of the regional excursion destinations. It commemorates the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler, who was inspired by the landscape in the area.

More travel destinations: Oberried Am Brienzersee, Bönigen, Brienz, Wengen, Matten Bei Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Unterseen, Gsteigwiler

To the overarching travel overview: Interlaken-Oberhasli Region.