A small, romantic town called Brienz boasts a spot named Brunngasse, once voted Europe’s prettiest road. Together with Oberdorfstrasse, Brunngasse is located in the oldest part of Brienz. This area is full of wooden chalets dating from the 18th century. The windowsills of these chalets are decorated with colorful flowers as well as elaborate wood carvings. This article gives an overview of Brunngasse in Brienz, accompanied by photos.
Brunngasse in Brienz, Switzerland
The village of Brienz is located on the eastern shore of Lake Brienz, which is characterized by clear water with turquoise color. Brienz is located approximately 18 kilometers north of Interlaken.
Brienz is famous for its wood carving tradition, and the villagers still live by and display this tradition in their homes. According to brochures distributed in Brienz, Brunngasse was voted Europe’s Most Beautiful Street once, making it one of the most picturesque places to visit in Brienz.
Brunngasse in Brienz is one of Switzerland’s most romantic streets and one of the village’s oldest parts. There are a lot of wooden chalets here that date back to the 18th century. These chalets are carved with beautiful wood carvings as well as decorated with dainty, colorful flowers on the windowsills.
These houses have been well-maintained and have a charming, consistent appearance. Walking up a short alley from the lake, you will be able to reach it fairly easily. Residents take good care of their houses and decorate them well. In many ways, Brunngasse reminds me of Grimentz, another beautiful Valais village.
When you have walked through Brunngasse, you can simply explore the parallel streets. Even though the other streets are not as picturesque as Brunngasse, they still have a couple of pretty wooden houses.
Visiting Lake Brienz
Thereafter, you can stroll along the traffic-free lake promenade, past small boat harbors, and relax. Sadly, the original promenade, built between 1911 and 1915, was destroyed by a storm and subsequently rebuilt.
In the midst of turquoise waters, Brienz’s lakefront is an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. A number of red benches are available today to sit and enjoy the view of Lake Brienz. Visitors and locals can also enjoy direct lake access thanks to several stone steps that lead directly to the water.
Visiting Brienz while on a family vacation in Switzerland is not at the top of everyone’s list. It’s Lucerne and Bern that immediately spring to mind. On the other hand, if you find yourself near or on the route to Brienz, it is a must to visit the village, Brunngasse, as well as its unspoiled lakeshore.
Excursions near Brienz, Switzerland
The town of Brienz is also the starting point for excursions to the Ballenberg Open Air Museum. This museum features many houses from various Swiss regions that depict rural life.
From Brienz, you can also ride the famous Brienz Rothorn Steam train up to the imposing Brienz Rothorn Peak around 2,350 meters above sea level. The steam train travels at a leisurely speed and takes one hour to reach the peak. The peak of Brienzer Rothorn is located in 3 cantons – Bern, Obwalden, and Lucerne.
Across the shore is the romantic and wild Giessbach Waterfalls. Its waters pour from Faulhorn-Sagis, through the Alps and forests, before falling 500 meters in 14 cascades to Lake Brienz.
Other Beautiful Streets in Switzerland
If you would like to see other beautiful streets in Switzerland, I can recommend visiting the following villages:
- Grimentz – This is the most similar village I can think of to what you will find in Brunngasse, with its wooden chalet-style houses and red flower decorations.
- Appenzell – Many colorful buildings and pretty shops dot the village of Appenzell.
- Stein am Rhein – The town of Stein am Rhein is one of Switzerland’s prettiest towns, with many buildings adorned with elaborate murals and bay windows. As one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country, it is also incredibly easy to reach from Zurich.
- Bern’s Old Town – A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bern’s Old Town and Clock Tower is truly one of the most picturesque places in all of Switzerland. There is so much history, tradition, importance, and beauty in this place that you should stop by and visit it.
How to Get to Brunngasse in Brienz
Near the lake, there are several empty parking lots if you are coming by car. Apart from that, Brienz is fairly easy to reach by train or bus from other regions, like Interlaken.
| Address | Brunngasse, 3855 Brienz |
| By Bus | Brienz BE, Rössliplatz |
| By Train | Brienz (10-minute walk) |
Final Thoughts: Brunngasse, Brienz
Though I would not necessarily travel across the world to see Brunngasse, it is worthwhile to stop in the pretty village of Brienz. Once in Brienz, you can explore Brunngasse Street, stroll around the lake, or choose from other excursions such as Brienz Rothorn Train, Ballenberg Open Air Museum, or Giessbach Falls. Walking through Brunngasse Street and taking photos will take you about 5 minutes; it’s quite short and picturesque.
That being said, there are also plenty of beautiful streets around the country. A visit to Bern is highly recommended because of its old town with cobbled streets, arcades, and a clock tower.
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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. She is based in the Lake Zurich region in Switzerland and has a second home in Grisons. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.