In Gunten, a historic village centre, trails through Gummischlucht Gorge and activities on Lake Thun come together. When planning your visit, it is worth considering the different time frames: from a themed trail to a panoramic hike lasting several hours, and from a boat trip to water sports.
Village Centre and Architectural History
Gunten is a village that grew around the boat station serving Sigriswil and has the character of a spa resort. In the village centre, Hauptgasse has retained its original narrow dimensions. It runs without a pavement from the acute-angled junction with Seestrasse, past the village square and on to the bridge over the stream. Historic architecture is also part of the village’s character: Hotel Oberland is a three-storey, timber-shingled half-timbered building dating from the late 19th century. Its features include a solid ground floor, a row of balconies with supporting braces and elaborate fretwork ornaments. The Oberländerhaus in Gunten was built in 1527.
Parkhotel and other large hotels in Gunten are well-preserved witnesses to the heyday of tourism and are significant from an architectural history perspective; they form part of the loosely connected chain of large hotels along the lake. Parkhotel was built on the Guntenmatte in 1910 by Adolf Lanzrein, a Thun grain mill owner. After it opened in 1915, Lanzrein’s wife took over its management. From 1958, the building served as a Christian retreat and holiday centre for groups and individual guests.
Hiking: Gummischlucht Gorge or the Panoramic Trail
The excursion route from Gunten through Gummischlucht Gorge and via Aeschlen and the suspension bridge to Sigriswil starts at the Gunten, Dorf bus stop, served by bus routes 21 and 25. There are no public transport stops along the entire hiking route. Check the route information locally before setting off.
On the Gummischlucht Gorge themed trail, it takes 45 minutes and 120 metres of elevation gain to reach Gunten; the trail can also be walked in the opposite direction. Viewing points offer information about native birds, Nagelfluh geology, the gorge forest and botanical features. Gummischlucht Gorge is home to around 20 bird species, including great tits and ravens. The panoramic trail from Thun via HĂĽnibach, Aeschlen and Sigriswil to Gunten offers a different time frame: it takes 4 hours and 15 minutes. You should also check this route information locally before setting off.
Swimming and Water Sports on the Lake
Strandbad Gunten is a few minutes’ walk from the boat landing stage; from there, you can go straight for a swim in Lake Thun. Strandbad Hirschen in Gunten has a small beach and a separate non-swimmer area. Badhuus is located right on the picturesque shore of the deep blue lake and has a lawn for sunbathing and relaxing. Windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding lessons are offered there.
At Wakehouse Gunten, you can try wakeboarding, water skiing and wakesurfing; stand-up paddleboards are also available to rent. Wakehouse is accessible by bus to the du Lac stop or by boat to Gunten. Check the timetables for the day of your trip.
Excursions in the Surrounding Area
Near Gunten is the 340-metre-long Sigriswil Panoramic Bridge. From the bridge, you can look down into the 182-metre-deep Gummischlucht Gorge. The bridge can be crossed in any weather with a pushchair or wheelchair; as accessibility information may change, check it before your visit.
The SIRIUS Astronomy Centre in Schwanden ob Sigriswil also offers a range of options: the planetarium provides an impressive view of the starry sky in any weather. The observatory has a powerful telescope for observing the night sky when conditions are clear. At GrabenmĂĽhle Sigriswil, visitors can fish and pan for gold at an idyllic pond. The nature park there is home to deer, alpacas, mouflons and other animals.
Planning Your Stay
Gunten is a starting point for a boat trip on Lake Thun. The Gunten Info Centre provides information about excursions and hiking maps, as well as tickets for buses, boats and trains. This makes it easy to plan your hiking and lake activities according to your preferences.
Discover more destinations: Merligen
Go to the main travel overview: Sigriswil.
