Goldiwil (Thun) – Sunny terrace above Thun

Goldiwil is situated on a sunny terrace above Thun. Its elevated location offers views of the town, Lake Thun and the Alps. Hiking trails, the Goldiwheel Flowtrail and Goldiwil Church offer different ways to plan your stay.

Sunny terrace and viewpoints

Rabeflue lies about halfway between Goldiwil and Thun’s old town. From there, the view stretches across much of the town and surrounding area, to the Stockhorn and over the lower basin of Lake Thun. The hike from Goldiwil to Niesenbänkli also offers scenic views: of the Niesen, other peaks in the Bernese Oberland and Lake Thun. Goldiwil itself has numerous walking paths that pass decorated houses.

Other routes offer their own perspectives on the area. The route through Cholerenschlucht leads to scenic terraces in Goldiwil and Heiligenschwendi. Crossing the upper Choleregraben offers a view of the lower basin of Lake Thun. The Rabeflue route follows signposted hiking trails throughout. At Goldiwil/Flüeli, 20 additional signposts indicate distances to places around the world.

Plan your hike and journey

The Goldiwil–Egg–Heiligenschwendi–Äschlenallmi–Schwanden hike offers a practical guide for planning your day: it is 9.61 kilometres long and takes 3 hours and 10 minutes. For the Niesenbänkli hike, the starting point is Goldiwil, Kirche; from Thun, you can reach it by train and then by bus. For the return journey, take the bus from Schwanden, Dorf towards Oberhofen or Sigriswil, then continue to Thun.

At Hünibode, the Niesenbänkli route includes a rest area with a fire pit. Seasonal conditions may affect trail accessibility. If you plan this hike, take both the route and the return journey into account. STI bus routes connect Thun, Goldiwil and Heiligenschwendi. When the bike shuttle is not operating, STI bus routes 31 and 32 from Thun railway station are an alternative for transporting bicycles; capacity is limited to five bicycles. Check current conditions before travelling.

Flowtrail and winter sports history

The Goldiwheel Flowtrail runs from Goldiwil through the forest to Thun. Its features include rollers, jumps and steep berms. The jump line includes tables up to 11 metres long. Assess the trail in light of your riding experience and check riding conditions and any local restrictions.

Goldiwil officially became a winter sports resort in 1906. The Kur- und Verkehrsverein’s plans included Goldiwil as a winter sports resort with a ski slope, cross-country ski trail and ski jump. The Goldiwil Ski Club’s ski lift is closed; check its operating status before visiting.

Church and local history

Goldiwil Church was built in 1949–1950 by Thun architect Livio Colombi. Inside is Walter Flückiger’s 2000 mosaic, “In Search of Peace.” The stained-glass windows date from 1987 and were designed based on a template by Zweisimmen painter Bernhard Hunziker. They depict the return of the prodigal son.

The layout of the former village is also part of its local history: before it was incorporated into Thun in 1913, Grüsisbergwald effectively divided Goldiwil into the areas “ob dem Wald” and “nid dem Wald.” Historic hiking trails in Grüsisbergwald are still used today. Around Goldiwil, you can encounter both paths and viewpoints and traces of its religious and historical development.

Discover more destinations: Unterlangenegg, Uebeschi, Tschingel Ob Gunten, Eriz, Thierachern, Buchholterberg, Blumenstein, Sigriswil

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