St. Beatus cave and Thun

St. Beatus Cave is a fascinating natural wonder located in the Bernese Oberland region, just a short distance from the picturesque town of Thun. Thun is also worth a visit, with its historic old town, picturesque castle, and charming shops and restaurants offering a glimpse into Swiss culture and history.

Begin your day by taking a boat to the Beatushöhlen Sundlauenen stop. From here, you can hike up for 15 minutes to reach the cave. If you prefer to go to the caves without the hike, you can take a bus directly to the entrance. If you prefer to go by car, there isf ree parking available.

During our visit in the spring, we encountered a variety of plant species on our way up to the cave, including trees such as dormant beech, spruce, or diverse ferns, blackberry, wild strawberries, and the characteristic bright-yellow dandelion. Once you arrive, you can purchase the tickets to the cave for 19CHF (adults) and start your adventure.

Dandelion (Taraxacum)

Stonecrop (Sedum): Sedum is a succulent and has the ability to continue photosynthesis even in low water and light conditions. To avoid losing water during the day, Sedum stores CO2 and opens its pores during the night when it's less warm.

Spleenwort (Asplenium)

Spruce (Picea abies) and

St. Beatus cave

Open daily in summer, from 1st Nov - 1st March open only on the weekends.
The temperature inside the cave remains constant throughout the year at 8-10 degrees, so bring warm clothes!
The caves are dog friendly. To bring your dog with you inside the cave, the ticket costs 10CHF
There is a restaurant with warm food next to the cave entrance

St. Beatus Cave is a natural cave system that has been formed over millions of years. It is over 14 kilometers long and consists of a series of chambers, waterfalls, and underground lakes. The story of St. Beatus Cave in Switzerland dates back to the 6th century when it is said that an Irish monk named St. Beatus lived in a cave high above Lake Thun. Legend has it that St. Beatus was responsible for slaying a fire-breathing dragon that had been terrorizing the region. Before going into the caves, you can see a figure of St. Beatus and a representation of how may he have lived.

This is a sinter basin. Sinter is a stalactite mass, or the rock that is formed by a gradual mineral lime deposition. Lime is a chemical compound of the elements calcium, carbon and oxygen (CaCo3).

Stalactites hang from the cave - they are formed when mineral-rich water drips from the ceiling and leaves behind small amounts of calcium carbonate. Over time, these deposits build up and form a long, thin column that hangs from the ceiling

Stalagmites grow upwards from the cave floor. They are formed by the same process as stalactites, but the mineral-rich water drips onto the floor and leaves behind deposits that gradually build up over time. As the stalagmite grows taller, it eventually meets the stalactite hanging from the ceiling, forming a column. Stalagmites usually have a broader and more rounded shape than stalactites.

Spores entered the cave with the water and wind (and also with visitors' clothes) and develop under the influence of artificial light which lights up the cave. Mainly mosses, fungi species, algae and ferns grown inside the cave because of the high humidity and relatively low temperatures.

In the cave tour, we passed the roughly 40,000 year-old named Koh-i-Noor stalagmite.

Koh-I-Noor, meaning 'Mountain of Light' in Persian, is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world belonging to the British crown.

Staircase going out of the cave tour

St. Beatus caves main entrance and restaurant with beautiful waterfalls

Last but not least, from the St. Beatus cave entrance you have an amazing view of Lake Thun

The St. Beatus Museum is a free addition to the cave tour (if you have a cave ticket), offering visitors a chance to explore exhibits on St. Beatus cave history depicted artistically, a map of the cave system, and a more general depiction and exposition of tools and material used on cave exploration. There is a film about the Grand Canyon's cave system and there is also a freshwater aquarium, showcasing rare cave-adapted animals, although they are unfortunately confined to a fishtank. Overall, the museum provides an interesting opportunity to deepen your understanding of caving and the natural world.

St. Beatus fighting the dragon

After visiting the museum, we went back to Beatushöhlen Sundlauenen and got the boat back to Thun. On the way, we stopped in several ports in towns around the Thun lake, including Faulensee, Spiez and Oberhofen am Thunersee.

Boat approaching the port

Spiez with the Niessen mountain behind

Oberhofen am Thunersee

Thun

Thun has a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Thun and is surrounded by the stunning Swiss Alps. The Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square) forms Thun’s historical centre and was constructed around 1500. This picturesque square in the heart of the old town hosts a Saturday market selling fresh vegetables, fruit and regional specialities. From the Rathausplatz, turn into Obere Hauptgasse with its famous raised pavements. Visit the family-run shops, restaurants and bars on two levels and take a break at the Mühleplatz. The “Mühli”, as the square is affectionately referred to by the townsfolk, is a great place to relax on the banks of the River Aare. In spring, Thun’s bridges are decorated with colourful flowers. Cross the wooden bridges at one of the two locks, Mühleschleuse or Scherzligschleuse and from there go up to the Castle of Thun and to the Scherligkirche.

Wooden bridge in Thun

Castle of Thun

The history of Castle Thun dates back to the 12th century. It was built as a stronghold to protect the region from invading forces. Over the years, the castle changed hands multiple times and underwent several renovations and additions.

In the 14th century, the castle became the residence of the powerful von Kyburg family. They added a chapel, a tower, and other buildings to the castle complex. The castle remained in the possession of the von Kyburg family until the 16th century when they fell into financial troubles and had to sell the castle to the city of Thun.

During the following centuries, the castle served as a government building, a prison, and a storage facility. In the early 20th century, the castle underwent a major renovation and was transformed into a museum. Today, the castle houses a variety of exhibitions that showcase the history of the region, the castle itself, and its former inhabitants.

Visitors to Castle Thun can explore the castle's various rooms, including the knights' hall, the chapel, and the prison cells. They can also climb the castle tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains. The castle is open to the public year-round, and guided tours are available in multiple languages.

The Thun Castle is an iconic landmark that dates back to the 12th century. You can explore the castle, visit the museum inside and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from the castle tower

You can go up to the castle through stairs covered by a wooden ceiling. Going up, you will encounter this painting on the ceiling. In this part of the painting, the Kyburg family is mentioned, who were owners of the castle over two centuries.

The Scherzligkirche is a beautiful church located on a hill overlooking the city. It has a unique design that blends Gothic and Renaissance styles and is definitely worth a visit.