Habkern: Moorland, Village History and Alphorn Making

When looking for a hotel in Habkern, it may help to consider whether you are mainly interested in the moorland, village history, alphorn making or seasonal activities. The area’s features range from protected raised bogs to a 17th-century church, offering concrete ideas for planning your trip.

Moorland and Wildlife

Above Interlaken and Habkern lies the Lombachalp, with an 86 km² moorland area that is among the largest and most impressive in Switzerland. It contains extensive fens and rare, protected raised bogs. Because of their rarity and sensitivity to trampling, the raised bogs are protected and must not be entered at any time of year. This restriction is important to bear in mind when finding your way around the area.

The landscape between Augstmatthorn and Hohgant is an internationally important Important Bird Area. You can spot chamois on the slopes of both mountains. Ibex can also be seen on Augstmatthorn; in summer and autumn, up to 30 animals may gather there in a single herd.

Hiking, Cycling and Winter Activities

The three-hour circular trail leads to Luegibodenstein. With a volume of 5,000 cubic metres, the rock is Europe’s largest granite erratic and has been protected for more than 100 years. Its history also reaches beyond Habkern: in 1852, a piece of the stone was sent to America as a gift from Switzerland for the Washington Monument.

For cyclists, the details of two routes clearly distinguish their itineraries: Hohgant Bike is a 41-kilometre cycling route that starts and ends in Habkern. By contrast, the ninth stage of Panorama Bike Route 2 runs from Sörenberg to Habkern. There is also a groomed sledging slope on the Lombachalp near Lägerstutz. The winter activities described at the Habkern ski area include a children’s winter paradise with a snow carousel, magic carpet and character trail, as well as a large ski lift with seven kilometres of pistes.

Village History and Alphorn Making

Habkern Church was built in 1666 by Abraham I Dünz on the slope of the scattered settlement and has been renovated several times since. The coat-of-arms relief in the entrance hall, the pulpit, the baptismal font and six stained-glass panels, most of them by Matthias Zwirn, date from the time of its construction.

The Habkern local history museum is housed in a former schoolroom. It presents the village’s history through traditional everyday objects, tools, musical instruments, and photographs and film footage. Its themes also include traditions, customs, crafts and the distinctive geology of the Habkern Valley. At Bernatone Alphornbau, you can book a workshop tour to learn more about how the traditional Swiss alphorn is made. The alphorns are made exclusively from local spruce wood from the mountain forests of Habkern. Finished instruments that are ready to play are regularly available to try in the workshop; this is subject to arrangements with the workshop. The Bernatone Museum is usually open and free to visit. It is best to check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Seasonal Experiences and Practical Information

Habkern swimming pool is small, family-friendly and solar-heated. It has a kiosk, a children’s paddling pool, a playground and a sunbathing lawn with a picnic area. The pool is used for swimming in summer and autumn; seasonal availability may vary. It is a few minutes’ walk from the Zäundli bus stop and is easy to reach by public transport.

Bus alpin route 31.107 connects Habkern Zäundli with Lombachalp-Roteschwand and operates partly as a request bus. If you plan to use this service, check the timetable in advance. The Lombachalp Explorer Kit lets you explore the Habkern-Sörenberg moorland and the protected area around the Lombachalp. It can be borrowed free of charge from the Jägerstübli restaurant from June to October. The raised bogs must still not be entered at any time of year.

At Alp Heubühlen, you can watch alpine cheese being made and buy fresh alpine cheese on site. A traditional alpine herdsman’s breakfast with rösti, fried egg and cheese is also served there.

Discover more destinations: Unterseen, Axalp, Saxeten, Lauterbrunnen, Därligen, Grindelwald, Niederried Bei Interlaken, Leissigen

Return to the main travel overview: Interlaken.