Leissigen lies right on the shore of Lake Thun, with views stretching to the surrounding Bernese Alps. Mountains, meadows and forests shape the landscape. The village combines hiking opportunities with a lido and several cultural and historical attractions. If you are looking for hotels in Leissigen, you can plan your stay around whether you want to focus on a longer hike, local history or time by the lake.
Hiking and the panoramic bridge
The Lake Thun Panorama Circular Trail is a 63-kilometre multi-day hike around Lake Thun. It passes through Därligen to Meielisalp above Leissigen and crosses a suspension bridge at Spissibach. This connects the village to a hike that extends beyond a single day trip.
Another striking structure is the Leissigen panoramic bridge: this 140-metre-long suspension bridge is located above Leissigen. It can be reached on foot from Meielisalp or Leissigen; a hiking trail from Aeschi also leads there. The bridge is open year-round, around the clock, and crossing it is free. Check local conditions before your visit.
When planning, it is useful to distinguish between the route and the structure: the 63 kilometres refer to the multi-day hike, while the 140 metres refer to the panoramic bridge.
Church, sawmill and Hodler memorial
Leissigen Church is one of the so-called “Twelve Churches of Lake Thun.” The present building contains Romanesque masonry and was converted into a Baroque preaching hall in 1675. Excavations from earlier phases of church construction and a bell-casting pit can also be viewed inside the church. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit.
Alti Sagi Leissigen is the oldest sawmill on Lake Thun. During a guided tour, the old saw and sawmill operations in Leissigen are explained. During visits, the saw runs and cuts timber, demonstrating earlier working methods and the power technologies of water, petrol and electricity. Tour arrangements may vary. If you are interested, find out about the tour in advance.
The cultural attractions differ in what they focus on: the church tells the story of its architecture and archaeological traces, while Alti Sagi focuses on sawmill operations and earlier power technologies. The Ferdinand Hodler Memorial, in turn, is connected to the village’s art history.
The memorial is located above Leissigen on the Finel and is open to visitors. It commemorates the Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler, who was inspired by the local landscape. In 1904, Hodler painted the first work in his “Landscapes on Lake Thun” series at this spot. The memorial was officially inaugurated in 1953, on the painter’s 100th birthday, as part of a celebration. The Finel thus brings together the landscape’s artistic significance and the later recognition of Hodler.
Lido and time by the water
Leissigen Lido is right on Lake Thun. It has a non-swimmer area and a raft with a diving board in the lake. For families, it also offers a paddling pool, a slide and a sandpit. As facilities may vary by season, check the latest information before your visit.
Table tennis and stand-up paddleboard rentals are also available in Leissigen; availability may vary by season. Together with the lido, these offer another way to spend time by the lake. When choosing a destination, you can therefore choose from several ways to shape your stay: a multi-day hike, cultural history or seasonal activities by the water.
Discover more destinations: Iseltwald, Bönigen, Saxeten, Hofstetten bei Brienz, Grindelwald, Habkern, Brienzwiler, Lauterbrunnen.
Return to the main travel overview: Interlaken.
