Belp: Culture, History and Nature
Accommodation in Belp
Belp brings together a range of experiences for a stay: local history at the museum and historic buildings, art at the Schlossgalerie, water activities at Giessenbad and nature in the Belpauen. You can tailor your visit to what interests you most.
Local History at the Museum, Tower and Church
The Belp local museum presents changing exhibitions on the town’s history and present day in the castle. Its collection includes objects, documents, photographs, artworks and publications on the history of Belp and its people. The estate of the former Galactina & Biomalz AG is also of significance beyond the region. The museum’s different collection areas offer a broad view of life and development in Belp.
The Chefiturm was built in 1542 and served as a lordly prison. It is one of the few surviving lordly prison buildings of its kind in the Canton of Bern. Alongside the local museum’s collections, it provides a tangible point of reference for the town’s history.
Belp Reformed Church is almost 1,000 years old and was originally dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Its notable features include significant 15th-century wall paintings. The tower and church offer different historical perspectives: the Chefiturm has an exact construction date, while the church’s approximate age and the period when the paintings were created provide further historical context.
Art and the Castle Grounds
The Belp Schlossgalerie gives people from Belp and the surrounding area, as well as other art enthusiasts, access to local art. The Old Castle of Belp dates from the 16th century. Its grounds include a castle park, a fountain and a pond with a noteworthy population of plane trees. Art and the features of the castle grounds complement the local museum’s and church’s stronger focus on history.
Riverine Landscapes and Hiking Destinations
The Belpauen are part of the cantonal nature reserve “Aare Landscape Thun–Bern,” established in 1977. A network of paths is provided through this diverse riverine landscape for walkers and sports enthusiasts, offering an opportunity to experience nature. This makes the Belpauen a different focus from the historic buildings in town: here, the landscape takes centre stage.
The ruins of Hohburg Castle also bring history and the surrounding landscape together. They are situated on a rocky outcrop in the woods along the hiking trail from Belp railway station. The trail therefore leads to a specific historic destination in a wooded landscape; the ruins differ in location and character from the buildings in the town centre.
Swimming at Giessenbad
Giessenbad Belp has a 50-metre swimming pool with a pool lift. A separate diving pool features 1- and 3-metre springboards and a 5-metre diving platform. For children, there is a water playground with a paddling pool called the “Familienbedli.” The different pools and diving facilities offer a range of activities.
The grounds also include the Giesse, a natural stream; at Giessenbad, you can swim in the Giesse, including river swimming. For refreshments, there is a restaurant or kiosk with 100 seats, as well as a smaller kiosk in the family pool area. River swimming may operate seasonally. If you are planning your visit around it, check the opening hours in advance.
Choosing Belp as a Place to Stay
For planning purposes, the options are clear: the local museum, Chefiturm and church focus on history; the Schlossgalerie on local art; the Belpauen and Hohburg on nature and landscape; and Giessenbad on swimming and diving. If you are looking for hotels in Belp, you can start by considering which of these interests you would like to shape your stay. If you are planning a visit around Giessenbad, bear in mind that river swimming may be seasonal.
Discover more destinations: Gerzensee, Toffen, RĂĽti Bei Riggisberg, Kehrsatz, Kirchdorf, Burgistein, RĂĽeggisberg, Uttigen.
Return to the overview of the wider area: Seftigen.
