Discover Spiez: vineyards, castle and Lake Thun

Spiez is nestled among vineyards on Lake Thun. Mountains, the lake and grapevines shape the town, along with panoramic views of the mountains. You can combine several interests during your stay: winegrowing, cultural history, walks and activities on the water. Cultural and nature-related attractions sit alongside sporting activities. The following places offer practical pointers for planning your trip.

Vineyards, the lake and the character of the town

The Spiez vineyard lies 600 metres above sea level and is one of the highest vineyards north of the Alps. Together with its location on Lake Thun and the mountain panorama, winegrowing shapes the character of Spiez. If you are interested in the landscape, you can take in this aspect on a walk through the vineyard; the town’s cultural history and views offer other points of interest.

Museum, castle and castle church

The Spiez Local History and Viticulture Museum is housed in a Simmental house built in 1728. Its permanent exhibition shows what life was like in a farming household. The building and exhibition thus offer two concrete ways to explore the subject: the historic house and the everyday life at the heart of the exhibition. The museum has been open to the public since 1986. Check the latest visitor information before your trip.

Spiez Castle is a cultural property of national significance. An interactive exhibition brings the history of the town to life. Right next to the castle stands the 1,000-year-old Spiez Castle Church, distinguished by its early Romanesque style. The castle tower offers panoramic views of Lake Thun, the Alpine range and Spiez Bay. Various stations in the castle invite children to act out the life of a knight.

Spiez wine and walks through the vineyard

The Spiez Vineyard Discovery Trail is a walk through the vineyard that takes about one to two hours. Twelve information panels tell you about the year in the life of a winegrower and the natural environment. At six interactive stations, you can test your senses. The trail therefore offers both an overview of the seasons and a range of topics to look out for along the way.

At the Bucht Varietal Garden, you can discover the characteristics and qualities of 60 selected grape varieties. Processing is also part of Spiez’s winegrowing tradition: Spiez wine is vinified using modern methods in the old walls of Spiez Castle. The vineyard, varietal garden and winemaking shed light on different aspects of winegrowing—from the vines to vinification.

Activities at Spiez Bay

Boating and water sports are among the activities on offer to visitors in Spiez. At the information point in Spiez Bay, you can rent canoes and stand-up paddleboards. The Spiez Boat Rental & Photo Tour also offers electric motorboats, which can be operated without a licence, as well as pedal boats. Both rental services are seasonal; check their operating dates before your trip.

For exploring on foot, the free Smart Guide Spiez takes you to seven sights. The accompanying village walk takes about an hour. For comparison, the walk along the Spiez Vineyard Discovery Trail is listed as taking about one to two hours. These time estimates help you distinguish between the two walks when planning. Whether you focus on the town walk, the vines, cultural history or activities on the water depends on which topics you want to explore during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hondrich, Horboden, Diemtigen, Oberwil Im Simmental, Wimmis, Därstetten, Erlenbach Im Simmental, Faulensee.

Back to the regional travel overview: Niedersimmental.