Unterseen Old Town

Unterseen is a compact medieval town on the west bank of the Aare, adjoining Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. It was founded about 1280, and its old town remains largely intact, centred on the narrow, cobbled Obere Gasse, which is lined with 16th-century timber houses with painted shutters and flower boxes. The Unterseen market square, with its fountain, sits at the heart of the old town and hosts markets and seasonal events, and the Aare river, crossed by a covered-style wooden bridge nearby, runs along the eastern edge. From several points, the Jungfrau can be seen above the rooftops. Compared with the busy Höheweg in central Interlaken, Unterseen feels quiet and local, with small cafes, bakeries, craft shops and restaurants. The Tourismuseum, Switzerland's first museum of tourism, stands on Obere Gasse and gives a reason to stop. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, longer with a coffee or meal. The area is open at all hours, and shops generally open Monday to Saturday, so Sunday visits are quieter and many businesses are closed. Mid-morning is a good time, when the cafes have opened and the light reaches the lane. Visitors walk 10 minutes north-west from Interlaken West station across the Aare bridge, passing the river and the Unterseen church. The area is free to explore, and there is no ticketing. Photographers can capture the lane's timber facades in morning light, and the riverside offers views toward the Harder Kulm slope. Crowds are rarely heavy, even in July and August, though organised walking groups sometimes pass through. Wear shoes suited to cobblestones.