Breathtakingly beautiful scenery that will move you to tears – A charming lakeside town in the Swiss Alps

Text and photos byPaperclip ‘Food, Photo & Joy’

I’ve traveled to Switzerland four years in a row, yet there’s always something I miss. After all, every city and town here has its own unique charm and beauty that never gets old. Even the lakes are all different from one another. It’s an indescribable kind of difference—you have to see it for yourself to understand even a little. My friend and I planned a trip to Hallstatt in Austria. Before that, we stopped by the lakeside town of Brienz near the Jungfrau region. Two friends had flown in from Paris to Switzerland, spent a few days in Zurich, and then came to Grindelwald, a town I recommended, for a short stay. They also wanted to see this lakeside town, and since I’d never been there either, we decided to meet up here for a warm-up trip.

Brienz is located by Lake Brienz (pictured on the right above), one of the two lakes where Interlaken, the gateway to the Jungfrau region, is situated. The first time I visited the Jungfrau region in 2013, I was on a train heading to Interlaken. As we passed by Lake Thun (also pictured on the right above), I was mesmerized by the summer lakeside scenery and couldn’t take my eyes off it. I really wished I could jump off the train to take photos and secretly made a note to come and stay by this lake someday. Little did I know, it would take until this year for that dream to come true. Good weather is always a traveler’s best companion. The day I arrived in Brienz, the sky was clear and bright, and the mild winter temperature of 10°C meant I could just wear a simple sweater or fleece jacket, slip on a comfortable pair of shoes, and start enjoying the beautiful scenery.

The surface of Lake Brienz is crystal-clear and calm. In the distance, a light mist rises slightly over the lake, blurring the boundary between mountain and water. Amidst a sea of emerald green, white water birds and swans glide gracefully, tracing perfect arcs. “It’s truly a fairyland. To be a swan in Brienz, always admired, would be a joy!” We could do nothing but sigh. What we were sighing about was how incredibly moving the scenery was.

My friend picked up a simple map from a restaurant, and we followed the recommended route on it. After walking along the lake for about ten minutes, we reluctantly left the lakeside path and reached the main road. The low season in winter is actually the perfect time to enjoy the tranquility of the town, a completely different experience from the lively joy of summer.

We left the main road and continued along Oberdorfstrasse, which runs parallel to the main thoroughfare. In the distance, there’s a waterfall that cuts through a cliff. According to the guide, locals call it the “Heart-Shaped Waterfall” because of its heart-like shape.

Then we turned into a lane called Brunngasse. In summer, this small alley is lined with unique wooden carvings on both sides, decorated with blooming potted flowers, and has even been named one of the “Most Beautiful Alleys in Europe.” Though the flowers have faded in winter, the remnants of the decorations still allow you to imagine the former glory.

I really like what I call the “fish-scale technique” often seen in Swiss architecture (I gave it that name myself). Roofs or walls reflect different sheens depending on the light, and over time, different colors of vegetation grow on each wooden shingle, giving them varying hues.

It’s rare to see a hedgehog used as a door decoration. Actually, hedgehogs are quite cute animals, aren’t they?

After leaving the “flower-filled alleys,” we returned to the main road and walked for another five minutes to see a church standing tall on a hill. This also marked the end of our walk, so we turned back and continued to enjoy the carefree and liberating feeling along the lakeside.

This cat was the fourth one we encountered. She loves being around people and quickly came out from someone’s garden to beg for pets when she saw us waving.

Forgot to mention—Brienz is a town famous for its woodcarvings, so you can see many lifelike wooden sculptures around the town.

Looking back at the church, I felt this scene somewhat resembled the one in Hallstatt, Austria, where we were headed next.

At 4 p.m., the sun was partially covered by thin clouds, and dusk would soon arrive. After seeing my friends off, I returned to my hotel room. While looking at the photos I took that day, I kept glancing at the big lake in front of me. Unexpectedly, the sunset was even more breathtaking. Half the sky turned orange-red, reflecting on the lake. At that moment, a couple went boating together, adding a romantic touch to the scene. How could you only visit Switzerland once?

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