Thun

Thun is a small city in the Bernese Highlands of Bern Canton, Switzerland. Its surface area is 21.7 km², and it had about 44,000 inhabitants in 2017.

Understand
The area of what is now Thun was inhabited since the Neolithic age (mid-3rd millennium BC). The name of the city derives from the Celtic term Dunum, meaning "fortified city". It fell to Rome in 58 BC, when Roman legions conquered almost all Switzerland, and soon became one of the main centres of Roman administration in the region.

The Romans were driven out of Thun, and out of the rest of Switzerland, by the Burgundians around 400 AD. The Aar became the frontier between the Christian Burgundians and the Pagan, German-speaking Alemanni, who lived north. Thun was mentioned for the first time during the 7th century, in the chronicle of Frankish monk Fredgar.

The region of Thun became a part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1033, when Conrad II gained the title of King of Burgundy. The emperors entrusted the Zähringen family, centred in Bern, to subdue the unruly nobles of central Switzerland. Around 1190 Duke Bertold V of Zähringen, built a castle in Thun and expanded the city. After Bertold's death in 1218, his territories went to Ulrich III von Kyburg.

In 1264 Thun received state rights and in 1384 the town was bought by the canton of Bern. Thun was the capital of the Oberland canton of the Helvetic Republic.

In 1819 a military school was founded in the city, which later developed in the main military school in Switzerland. Thun was connected to the railway network of Switzerland in 1859 and telephone access was made available in 1888.

By train
Thun is located just outside the Berne metropolitan area and is served by its suburban trains: the S1 of the Berne S-Bahn operates from Berne to Thun in 30 min, and the S4+S44 lines in 40 min (via Belp). A quicker way are intercity trains from Berne (17 min). It is also possible to take the S1 from the southwestern Bernese suburbs and Fribourg and the S4/S44 from Belp, where connection to Berne airport is available by bus. In addition non-S-Bahn suburban trains (designated R or RE) operate from Thun to Hasle-Rüegsau through the eastern Bernese suburbs (the RE trains continue to Solothurn in the northern metropolitan area, making limited stops Thun - Hasle-Rüegsau). IC trains from the canton Valais, Interlaken, Zürich, Basel and a few ICE trains from Frankfurt stop at Thun.

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By car
Thun is easily reachable with the national motorway A6 from Berne or Spiez and has two exits (Thun South, Thun North).

By foot
Thun isn't that big, and you can reach most places by a short walk. Ask the Tourist Information at the railway station for a map. A historical walking path through Thun can be found on the Tourism Department's web site.

By bus
Thun has an efficient and expansive local bus system, with many convenient stops. The STI brings you all around the city and into neighbouring communities. Ask at the office in front of the railway station for timetables, or check the STI web site.

See




Schadau Park

 * It features Swiss Gastronomy museum.
 * It features Swiss Gastronomy museum.



Do

 * Football: FC Thun play soccer in Challenger League, the second tier. Their Stockhorn Arena (capacity 10,000) is 2 km west of city centre near the A6. In 2025 it hosts games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals.
 * Shopping in the Bälliz-Street/Obere Hauptgasse
 * Have a swim in the Aare River or Lake Thun. If you are there in summer, you should visit the "Strandbad Thun"; you can swim in the lake and have a beautiful view of the Niederhorn, Niesen, Stockhorn and Jungfrau peaks
 * Have a drink on the Muehleplatz
 * Take an acrobatic flight in a 1930s Swiss military biplane, based at the Thun Airfield:
 * Go sailing or surfing (Sailing, Surfing)
 * Rent a bike for free with ThunRollt and ride along the River or Lake (the ride is particularly nice in the direction of Hünibach)

Stay safe
The Aare is a strong river. It can be very dangerous to swim in it; you need skill and background to do it safely. For the first time, go to the "Schwäbis-Bad". It is organised, has guards, and the cost is very affordable.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Thun and its approach roads have 5G from all Swiss carriers.

Go next

 * Bern
 * Interlaken
 * Spiez