Town of Thun

The name Thun is derived from the Celtic word for fortified hill, dunon, which indicates an early settlement. The oldest known building on top of the castle hill is a church dating from the 10th century, whose foundations are below the site of the castle located there today.

Thun Castle was built by the dukes of Zähringen prior to 1200 substantially in the form that exists today and was fortified all around with a wall that was integrated into the city wall. Parts of the city wall have been preserved and have a strong influence on Thun’s image.

The Rittersaal (Hall of Knights) on the top floor of the main building is one of the most impressive mediaeval secular rooms in Switzerland. The corner towers allow an unparalleled view of the old town, the whole basin of the lower Thunersee (Lake Thun) and the dramatic mountain range around the Stockhorn mountain. Since 1375 Thun Castle has served as an official residence of Berne.

To this day, some areas in the old town bear witness to previous centuries, giving the town its strongly historical character. The more than 40,000 inhabitants of Thun appreciate not only the scenic benefits of the region, but feel especially at home at the gateway to the Berner Oberland (Bernese highlands), on the beautiful lake, in the outlying districts each with their own particular character and in Thun’s old town with its lovingly restored old city houses dating from 1250.

The main street as well as the Bälliz (bellitio: Gallic for poplar – these trees used to stand alongside the Bälliz in great numbers) are thought to date from the 12th century.

Modern buildings, primarily in the shopping street Bälliz, have given an architectural finesse to the town, and stand in perfect harmony with the preserved, and in some cases cited historical elements.

The Bälliz is situated between the inner and the outer Aare (River Aar), where the riversides are lined with romantic restaurants that, notably during the warmer seasons, invite the guest to linger – these are places where the visitor can forget the hectic pace of everyday life.

Dear guests, we invite you to experience the beautiful settings of all the concert sites that we have selected and wish you a wonderful time at the GAIA Chamber Music Festival.