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). |
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. |
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)? |
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. |
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.
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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/ |
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. |
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! |
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 |
>>>Do you have any idea if the Swiss Card is valid on buses within Bern <<<
You need to download the validity map in this link. Also at the bottom, click miscellaneous provisions to read about other coverage. http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/swiss-pass-en.html **Swiss Pass, Swiss Saver Pass and Swiss Youth Pass entitle you: to unlimited travel on all train, boat and bus lines marked on the synoptic map with a continuous line Show map of validity to unlimited travel on all public transport systems in the cities marked on the synoptic map with a red/white spot*** |
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.... |
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.... |
Hi mokka4,
<<I want to prioritize between Fribourg, Neuchatel and Biel/Bienne (which all seem somewhat similar)?? I can't help with Biel, but I can tell you that the little city of Neuchatel didn't do much for me. I adored its Latenium archaeological museum, but the city was "just another" (hehehee) pretty French/Swiss city. Because of Ingo's reports of Fribourg -- and you know how reliable and insightful Into is -- I would definitely put that higher on the list. I haven't been there yet myself though. s |
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. |
Thanks,this helps so much!
I appreciate the feedback. |
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. |
And in October, the trees in the neighbourhood should be showing their fall colours.
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WT: Is this path/route marked?
Takes about how long? |
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.
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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.
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