Dimitri Burkhard
(Photograph copyright Dominik Gehl)
In this country of 1500 lakes, it is near impossible to pick a single favorite. From idyllic lakes for a summer swim to transparent alpine lakes, each lake in Switzerland has its own charm.
I have a feeling that Lake Blausee in the Bernese Oberland is a contender for your Swiss bucket list. Located in the Kander Valley not too far from Interlaken, this turquoise blue lake boasts some of the clearest waters of any Swiss lake.
Blausee has a maximum depth of 10 meters, but yet you can spot individual rocks and logs at the bottom of the lake. The lake is crystal clear because it consists of mineral rich mountain spring water from an underground source.
At times, this lake looks like a painting. But for the purpose of this article, I wanted to show you the stunning beauty of this lake on photographs. So, I have asked our most talented photographers for their favorite pictures - and they responded within the hour! Not surprisingly, Cloudia, Dominik and Kristine have each visited this stunning Swiss lake on several occasions.
Here are some more of their favorite photographs of Lake Blausee during all seasons.
Lake Blausee during winter
(Photograph copyright Dominik Gehl)
(Photograph copyright Dominik Gehl)
(Photograph copyright Dominik Gehl)
(Photograph copyright Cloudia Chen)
(Photograph copyright Cloudia Chen)
Exploring beautiful Blausee during spring and summer
(Photograph copyright Kristine Strazdina)
(Photograph copyright Kristine Strazdina)
(Photograph copyright Kristine Strazdina)
Autumn colors at Lake Blausee
(Photograph copyright Cloudia Chen)
(Photograph copyright Cloudia Chen)
How to best appreciate this energy spot in Switzerland
The lake is surrounded by a nature park. You will need to pay your entrance fee at the gift shop before taking the paved trail down to the small lake.
Admission for adults is between 8 and 10 francs, which includes a visit of the trout farm and a boat ride during summer. Pricing is dynamic based on weekday and time of arrival, so check out this chart for exact admission pricing.
Once inside, you will be able to enjoy nice trails, picnic areas, as well as a playground. Having been to Asia many times, the pine forest with its moss covered rocks sometimes reminds me of a manicured Japanese garden.
When looking at the massive, mossy rocks, Kristine feels why they call it one of the energy spots of Switzerland: "You should walk all around it and soak in all the energy." Possibly the best way to appreciate the stunning clarity and majestic surroundings of Lake Blausee is a ride in the glass-bottom boat. But see for yourself...
(Photograph copyright Kristine Strazdina)
The legend behind the sunken statue in Lake Blausee
When you visit, pay attention and find the sunken statue near the bridge. The legend of the Lake Blausee statue involves a beautiful maiden and a shepherd who had fallen in love. They would go out on the lake in a boat every once in a while to do what lovers do.
Yet, when the shepherd tragically passed away, the widow would row out onto the lake by herself to mourn. One night, her boat sank and from that moment on, legend goes that the lake had changed its color because of the tears from the woman’s blue eyes. For me, the lake stands as a symbol for eternal love. How do you feel about it?
(Photograph copyright Kristine Strazdina)
Unmissable annual events
During summer, there are open-air movies and concerts by the lake. In October, the lake is usually opened for fishing. Then in December, those resistant to the cold will plunge into the lake for the annual Blausee-Schwimmen!
We have not tried the Sunday brunch yet but we have heard it is worth a visit... Make a reservation online.
Planning a visit of Lake Blausee
The beauty about Blausee goes beyond its looks: this destination is open all year and can be easily accessed by public transport, by hiking or by car. Bear in mind that the lake is most crowded during July and August when the Swiss are on summer vacation.
And since it is so easily accessible and has all the facilities, Blausee may not be the nature escape you have been looking for. But on the other hand, having a restaurant and toilets on site will allow you to spend an entire day without worries.
How to get there
From the train stations in Frutigen or Kandersteg, hop on bus #230 which connects the two. After less than 15 minutes, you will conveniently reach your stop: “Blausee BE”. Check the bus schedule for your return transfer in order to maximize the time by the lake...
It will take you about 85 minutes to hike from the train station in Kandersteg down to the lake. Look out for the hiking path #743 (Kulturweg Frutigenland).
By car, it will take about 35 minutes from Interlaken to Blausee. Punch the following GPS coordinates into your car navigation to reach the parking spaces: 46.5338800, 7.6672290.
How to take perfect photographs
Our photographer, Cloudia, recommends to get there early in the morning. In order to capture the stunning clarity of Blausee, take advantage of the morning light which is better than at noon. Cloudia usually visits during a day trip, but she imagines that staying for a summer sunset would be a great photo opportunity as well.
Kristine comments: "It's just important to visit Blausee during the sunny hours of the day. This is when the sun rays strike right through the water and the hues of blue are most impressive."
(Photograph copyright Cloudia Chen)
Food options at Lake Blausee
In short, I would recommend packing a picnic. Once inside the nature park, there are many nice spots to sit down and appreciate the natural beauty. Several fire pits are usually stocked with fire wood, so barbequing your own lunch is easy. The gift shop offers a picnic basket filled to the brim with local goodies, but it needs to be ordered ahead of time.
As an alternative, there are two restaurants to pick from: Conventino is an Italian pizza restaurant located by the parking spots. And there is a fancier restaurant located inside the hotel by the lake.
About those trouts...
While there, plan a visit to the alpine trout farm with its rainbow trouts and salmon trouts. The philosophy of the hatchers is to put quality above quantity, allowing the fish to grow slowly in these mineral rich spring waters. (Interestingly, not far from Blausee at the Tropenhaus Frutigen, there is a sturgeon farm for the production of Swiss caviar.)
Even if it may be tempting with all that trout swimming in the clear waters, please note that fishing is prohibited. And so is swimming in the lake.
More information
- Opening times of the nature park: 9 AM to 9 PM year-round
- Opening times of the hotel and restaurant: 9 AM to 11 PM
- Check the Blausee Webcam
- 17 interesting facts about Switzerland’s lakes and mountains
Jordan Girardin
