Interlaken Monastery and Castle

The Interlaken Monastery and Castle is the historic core from which the town takes its name, meaning between the lakes. Founded about 1130 as an Augustinian double monastery for monks and nuns, it was dissolved in 1528 after the Reformation in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, and its buildings were later converted to administrative use. The complex stands in old Interlaken between the Höhematte meadow and the Aare river. The surviving parts include the Gothic cloister, the 14th-century church tower and the castle buildings, which now house the regional administration and courts. The Schlosskirche, the former monastery church at Schloss 17, holds Sunday services at 10:00AM and is open to visitors at limited hours. The courtyard and cloister grounds are open daily, and visitors can walk through the arcades, see the tower and the stonework, and read information boards on the monastery's history. Some listings show a small fee of about CHF 5 for interior visits, so confirming with Interlaken Tourist Information is advisable. The site is small, and most visitors spend 30 to 45 minutes. It is calm compared with the busy Höheweg promenade nearby, and weekday mornings are quietest. The complex combines easily with a walk across the Höhematte meadow, a view of the Jungfrau and a visit to Unterseen Old Town across the Aare. It is a 10-minute walk from Interlaken Ost station or 15 minutes from Interlaken West. Photographers will find the best angle on the tower and cloister from the courtyard in morning light, and the church interior is simple, with limited decoration since the Reformation. Visitors should respect quiet during services.