Schlosskirche and Hohematte Park

SIGHTSEEING, INTERLAKEN Updated : Feb 28, 2017, 04.55 PM IST

Sumedha Bharpilania

Sumedha has travelled across 28 countries, including a major chunk of India, and calls Japan, Thailand, France and Switzerland her pet destinations. She is seasoned in going off the beaten track and loves documenting her journeys. Apart from getting lost in metropolises, being stranded at airports and finding solace in the hills, she actively writes for eminent travel platforms. You can follow her trips on her social media handles.

Photo by:  Schlosskirche Wittenberg / Castle Church Wittenberg, Creative Commons Attribution Licence
The Schlosskirche in Interlaken is a castle, a church and a monastery rolled into one. Constructed around 1133, this structure might look extremely simple from the outside; however, it is home to some outstanding stained glass art.

The 14th century bell tower of this former Augustinian monastery is a sight in itself and so is the cloister with its heavy Gothic influences. The 15th Century chapel of Schlosskirche is also one of its noticeable features. Historians are quite intrigued by the fact that after the Reformation in the 16th century, the state of Bern got ownership of the monastic complex and it was transformed into a fully functioning hospital. Before that, it was an important hostel for pilgrims. It was only after 1841 that it became a religious and business site that it is today.

Deemed a heritage property in Switzerland, the Interlaken Monastery and Castle is located in the heart of the town and can easily be accessed on foot. For a better orientation, it is located a few hundred m away from Hohematte, Interlaken’s most popular public park. The 35 acre park is home to colourful flowers and a working clock made out of the same. The astounding views of Jungfrau and the many coffee shops and luxury hotels in the vicinity are an added treat. The park is open daily and there is no admission fee.
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