Höhematte and Unspunnen Festival Ground

The Höhematte is the large central meadow in Interlaken, in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, lying between the Höheweg promenade and the Aare river, with the Jungfrau massif visible to the south. The meadow was once part of the monastery's land and later became a public green space at the heart of the resort. Its historical importance rests on the Unspunnen Festival. The first festival took place in 1805 near Unspunnen Castle, organised to celebrate Swiss alpine culture and to encourage unity in a politically unsettled period. The programme included Swiss wrestling, known as Schwingen, stone throwing with the 83.5 kilogram Unspunnen Stone, yodelling, alphorn playing and regional costumes. The event was revived in later decades and now takes place on a cycle of about twelve years, with the Höhematte as the main venue. For recent editions an arena seating around 15,000 spectators has been set up on the meadow, a facility in use since 2011 for the festival. Between festivals the Höhematte functions as an open meadow used by residents and visitors. It is known as the landing field for paragliders and tandem parachutists who descend from the nearby hills, and it is a common place to walk, picnic or watch the mountains. There are no permanent exhibits on the meadow itself, so the historical interpretation relies on festival information from Interlaken Tourism, plates and notices in the area, and local museums. The site is open and free at all hours. Character-wise it is a landscaped urban meadow rather than an archaeological or architectural monument, framed by the Belle Epoque hotels of the Höheweg. Its preservation is a matter of land-use protection, as the meadow has been kept free of building for generations. A visit fits well with a walk to the monastery and the Kursaal, and visitors interested in Swiss folk sport should check the schedule for the next festival and for local wrestling events.