Bern is booked!

Old May 29th, 2013, 06:20 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bern is booked!

My excitement level soars and no family members are travelers, so they don't get it!

Booked a vacation apt in Altstadt Bern for 8 nights this October.
Traveling alone, and have been to Germany or Switzerland 12 or 13 x so far. Able to read and speak (with hesitation) Hoch Deutsch. (Understanding Schwyzerdutsch remains an enigma) !

Plan to further leisurely explore Bern over 2-3 days ("new" Bearpits, travel up to Gurten and hike back down, shops, Muenster, thrice-weekly markets, maybe a musum). I have visited Bern twice previously, but only on all-day-long daytrips. I want to meander the cobble alleyways in the evening.

Other day plans:
Solothurn
Luzern Fall festival
Niesen Kulm (no solo hiking, just viewing and lunch)
Undecided on Fribourg or Neuchatel...and have left my other research at home. It is actually too late for any of MY desired boat trips, say between Murten and Fribourg (after October 7).

Any additional suggestions for those familiar with area much appreciated.
(No Gruyere or Broc as too far).
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 06:41 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
When we were in Bern, we toured the Swiss Parliament building. Very interesting.

http://www.parlament.ch/e/service-pr...s/default.aspx

And I'm a museum junkie, so the Klee was a must.
Jean is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 07:24 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the link...what an amazing mural and architecture.

Do you have any idea if the Swiss Card is valid on buses within Bern (for Klee musuem)?
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 09:55 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A boat trip between Murten and Fribourg? How that? But Fribourg is a *must* see. Gorgeous medieval old town.

Avenches for the Roman ruins.

Payerne for the Romanesque church.

Burgdorf for the castle and medieval (small) old town, afternoon excursion to Emmental valley with cheese making, Gotthelf house ...

Schloss Landshut

Schloss Jegenstorf

St. Urban
http://www.myoberaargau.com/de/freiz...urban.488.html

Just a few examples.
Ingo is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 10:04 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Our hotel was near the Rathausplatz, so we just walked to the Klee. I don't think we used any buses in Berne, but our Swiss Card was valid for buses elsewhere so I'm sure it's good in Berne.
Jean is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 10:47 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 8,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's difficult to make new proposals, as you are only interested in places less than 1 hr by public transport from Berne. Most of the Alps (NIesen too, BTW) is outside this perimeter.

You may check the Museums of celtic lake dwellings and culture at Biel/Bienne (Museum Schwab) and Neuchatel (Latenium). Both towns have a tiny, but scenic medieval city center. The automates jaquet Droz in the Ntel art museum are unique, but demonstrations take place the first Sunday of every month only.

Region des Trois Lacs

Check also
http://www.juradreiseenland.ch/en/di...-heritage.html

This area a lot of sights, like
entirely walled medieval town of Murten
http://www.murtentourismus.ch/en/welcome.cfm?
Roman amphitheatre and Roman Museum of Avenches
http://www.avenches.ch/en/page.cfm/siteetmuseeromain
Roman Villa of Vallon
http://www.pro-vallon.ch/allemand/mo.../mosaiques.htm
biggest Romanesque church of Switzerland and Monastery of Payerne
Nature Park of Grande Caricaie
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/dest...er-le-lac.html
http://www.bafu.admin.ch/dokumentati...x.html?lang=de
Medieval town and spa of Yverdon
http://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.ch/...ure_Patrimoine
Roman mosaics of Orbe
http://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.ch/en/orbe_region
Monastery of Romainmotier
http://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.ch/...nmotier_region
Castle and Menhirs of Grandson
http://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.ch/en/grandson_region
Menhirs and Dolmen of Onnens
http://www.onnens.ch/textes-1/dolmen...rthoud,38.html
medieval town of Neuchatel with castle, cathedral and many fine museums
http://www.neuchateltourisme.ch/en/decouvertes.html
Biel/Bienne with it's small but fine city center, good museums and a lot to see in the Lake Bienne area
http://www.biel-seeland.ch/en/discov...enne.1239.html
Medieval Bueren an der Aare with wooden brige over the Aar river
http://www.bueren.ch/de/inhalte/tour...anchor=1010025
Natural reserve of Altreu and it's storks
http://www.artenschutz.ch/AareAltreu.htm
Medieval town of Solothurn with baroque cathedral and many museums
http://www.solothurn-city.ch/topic2477.html
La Chaux-de-Fonds, capital of watchmaking
http://www.neuchateltourisme.ch/en/d...onds.1500.html

Gorges of Areuse, Seyon and Taubenloch

Cablecars Biel/Bienne - Macolin/Magglingen, Ligerz - Preles, St-Imier - Mont Soleil, Neuchatel - Chaumont
Many trains (the trains from Yverdon to Ste-Croix, from Neuchatel to La Chaux de Fonds and from Biel/Bienne to Tramelan bring you up to 1000 m of altitude).

October is a bit late for boat cruises, but if the weather is fine, you could perfectly go by boat from Murten dp 14.30 to Biel/Bienne (until Oct 20tu daily except Monday, later on Sundays ohly).

May be you are interested in the exhibition of Chinese terracotta warriors too http://www.bhm.ch/en/exhibitions/tem...he-exhibition/
neckervd is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 01:36 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I hope the "new" bear pits are nicer than the old one. It was a pretty sad event, and even pitiful. Poor bears.

Go to the newish Paul Klee Museum in Bern.
Rastaguytoday is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 01:43 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We're heading to Bern tomorrow to just wander around, check out two of my favourite brockis, maybe indulge in one of the tempting cupcakes from the new bakery near Markthalle...and will take the bus trip to the Klee Museum.

Have fun planning!
WeisserTee is online now  
Old May 29th, 2013, 02:05 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The new bear park is indeed a lot nicer. It covers a large grassy area on the slope and river bank with rocks and trees, and a bit of the river fenced off as the bears' private swimming pool. While the old pits were a pitiful matter indeed, this new enclosure meets any good zoo's standards.
http://www.baerenpark-bern.ch/index.php?id=park&L=0
quokka is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 02:17 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 36,778
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
>>>Do you have any idea if the Swiss Card is valid on buses within Bern
kybourbon is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 02:40 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the replies.
neckervd:
I am not limiting trips to "just" one hour, but certainly under two (one-way).
I realize that Bern to Niesen Kulm is 1 hr 30 min, and to Luzern it could take up to 1 1/2 hours as well, depending upon which option I choose.
I like the juradreiseenland link that you provided! Thanks!

I guess my quandry is, is that there are TOO many options new to me in this area, and I really want a leisurely-paced trip on my own. I want to prioritize between Fribourg, Neuchatel and Biel/Bienne (which all seem somewhat similar) for this fall as I am coming again next year (either May or September to Oberdiessbach, and whatever is still on my must-see list, will be visited then, with a friend brand-new to Switzerland, especially Gruyeres). So, I don't want to repeat the "same old tiny medieval towns" again and again, but rather seek one or two with highly recommended features which differentiate it.

ky: after further number-crunching, it seems most economical for me to purchase a Half Fare Card, which I presume DOES give 50% Bern's buses as well....
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 03:03 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ingo:
See, I AM new to this region...What? No Murten to Fribourg! Just too many lakes to keep track of!

Upon closer review of the Aarefahrt timetable, I 'could' travel Solothurn to Biel either 12:10-->15:00 OR
15:15-->18:05 ONLY on Sat or Sunday October 12-13....
but with the earlier option, I couldn't properly explore Solothurn (a MUST on my list), and with the latter, Biel would be sacrificed....
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 08:46 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi mokka4,

swandav2000 is online now  
Old May 30th, 2013, 12:02 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Too kind of you, swandav ;-) Agree with you on Neuchatel, btw - as usual

Seriously, skip Biel in favour of Fribourg. Architecture in Biel is a) similar to Bern's, and b) the old town in Biel is really small. Fribourg is very different. And has a much larger old town.
Ingo is offline  
Old May 30th, 2013, 03:33 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks,this helps so much!
I appreciate the feedback.
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 30th, 2013, 07:45 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I also didn't get much of a vibe from Neuchatel. Although, to be honest, I didn't find Fribourg to be a rave experience either (although I liked it better than Neuchatel). FWIW, I preferred Solothurn to both of those, it's a lovely small Baroque city.

A suggestion for Bern -- if you go to the Klee museum (as you should), consider walking back through the Obstberg neighbourhood down to the bear enclosure. It starts with some very agreeable vistas from the museum (you can see the Alps on a good day) and then winds down past beautiful homes, lots of greenery.
WeisserTee is online now  
Old May 30th, 2013, 07:46 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And in October, the trees in the neighbourhood should be showing their fall colours.
WeisserTee is online now  
Old May 30th, 2013, 08:49 AM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
WT: Is this path/route marked?
Takes about how long?
mokka4 is offline  
Old May 30th, 2013, 09:52 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
You don't mention your dates in October. But, FYI, when we were in Bern in late October (end of 3rd week, I think) we had snow flurries one morning. It didn't feel that cold, though.
Jean is offline  
Old May 30th, 2013, 10:19 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I never noticed the street names. Basically, I take the 12 bus up to the Klee museum, then walk the bus route back, detouring down small streets that look appealing, then going back to the main route. I may be doing this again on June 10, so will make note of the street names next time.
WeisserTee is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -