'''Thun''' [http://www.thun.ch/en.html] is in Switzerland.

Get in

By Train

Thun is very easily reachable from every bigger city via Berne (from the north) or through the alps via Visp through the new basis-tunnel "Loschtberg" (from the south). Your reach Thun from both cities in a half hour. From Zurich it takes 1.5, from Zermatt 2 or from Geneva also 2 hours.

By Car

Thun is easily reachable with the national motorway A6 from Berne or Spiez and has two exits (Thun South, Thun North).

Get around

by Foot

Thun isn't that big, so you can reach most of the places by a little walk. Ask the Tourist Information at the railway station for a map.

by Bus

Thun has a good local bus-system. The STI [http://www.stibus.ch/] brings you all around the city. Ask at the office in front of the railway station for timetables.

See

Places you have to take a look at:
  • '''Schadau Park and Castle''' [http://www.thun.ch/en/tourism/experience-thun/sightseeing/schadau-castle.html] (including the Swiss Gastronomy museum [http://thun.platforms.ch/d/gastronomiemuseum/index_e.html] )
  • '''Muehleplatz'''
  • '''The Castle'''
  • '''Aare River''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aar]
  • '''the Lake''' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Thun]
  • '''Vaporama''' (Swiss Steam Machine museum)
  • '''Wocherpanorama''' [http://www.thun.ch/en/tourism/experience-thun/sightseeing/the-wocher-panorama.html]
  • Kunstmuseum Thun

    Hofstettenstrasse 14, Phone: +41 (0)33 225 84 20, (Fax: +41 (0)33 225 89 06 Mail: kunstmuseum@thun.ch), [http://www.kunstmuseumthun.ch]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM, W until 9PM.

    '''Directions:''' By rail: every 30 minutes direct trains ? from Bern (20 min) ? from Basel (1 h 25 min) ? from Zurich (1 h 25 min)

    Nearby airports: Zurich und Basel/Mulhouse By car: Exit "Thun Nord" '''Concept and Program:''' The Kunstmuseum Thun in the former Grand Hotel Thunerhof housed the collection of the city of Thun since 1949. In five to six large exhibitions per year important international and national trends of contemporary art are shown. Solo exhibition by famous artists like Christian Marclay or Mark Grotjahn, the first large-scale retrospective exhibition of works by the artist sisters Claudia & Julia Muller ort he daring project _gCadeaux diplomatiques_h of Gianni Motti and Christoph Buchel made the Kunstmuseum Thun an important place. Next to theme-related exhibitions as _gGesellschaftsbilder / Images of Society_h or "Choosing my Religion" the museum focuses on the dialogue between the art of the past and of the present in an annual exhibition of the collection. The collection embraces important minor masters, classical modern Swiss art, a large number of Swiss pop art works, and works by all the renowned artists of the region. It is being constantly extended by works of contemporary Swiss art. Among the artists represented in the collection are: Cuno Amiet, Ferdinand Hodler, Paul Klee, Franz Gertsch, Balthasar Burkhard, Claudia & Julia Muller, Chantal Michel and Shirana Shabhazi. '''Project room enter:''' The project room _genter_h is a special platform for young innovative art. The small exhibitions held there offer scope for artistic experimentation and exciting insight into current, not yet fully formulated positions in art.

    '''Art education:''' The Kunstmuseum Thun addresses a broad public. It is a place in which to engage with art, so the main focus is not on the result of a museum visit, but, on the process, the positive experience. Related with the current exhibitions guided tours and special events are offered. The Kunstmuseum Thun is open to exchanges between the different art genres and the exhibitions are accompanied by a varied program of music, film, literature. The team of the art education offers workshops for children and young people, projects involving artist and on the Family Sunday a summer festival that includes different generations. '''Museum shop and Cafe Thunerhof''' The Kunstmuseum shop stocks the catalogues accompanying the exhibitions, as well as a wide range of books, posters, art postcards and multiples. This shop, the best art book store in the region, also has a large selection of highly original art books for children. The Cafe Thunerhof serves warm and cold snacks in a pleasant atmosphere. Before or after a visit to the museum, the terrace of the former Grand Hotel is a great attraction where one can enjoy coffee and cake against the impressive backdrop of the Bernese Oberland.

    Works from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Thun are not permanently on display.

    Admission: CHF 8.? / 6.? Children up to age 12 and school classes are free.

    '''Wocher?Panorama in Schadaupark'''

    The Wocher?Panorama in Schadaupark is a part of the Kunstmuseum Thun. This depiction of a small town around 1810 was painted by the artist Marquard Wocher on a roof in the centre of the old town of Thun. The unusual perspective still allows the viewer an intimate view into living-rooms, classrooms and narrow streets. The Thun Panorama is not only the first of its kind in Switzerland and the oldest preserved large-scale panorama in the world, it is also a valuable example of an early nineteenth century mass medium which enjoyed considerable popularity. The artist always had a particular preference for the Bernese Oberland, whose marvellous mountains, mirrored in the blue of its lakes, have been a revelation for many. Wocher painted his panorama between 1809 and 1814. It was first shown in Basel and after the artist_fs death it was presented to Thun as a gift. The painting was forgotten until it has been possible to restore the work thanks to the efforts of the Eidgenossische Gottfried-Keller-Stiftung. It has been accessible to the public since 1961 in a specially constructed round building in Schadaupark. The panorama is an important artistic an historical document of the city of Thun, showing a view from the quays along the river Aare to Niesen, Bluemslialp, and Jungfrau peaks and back to the caste.

    '''Opening hours:''' The Wocher?Panorama is open for the public in the summer season: Thuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Mondays For groups by appointment all year.

    '''Admission:''' CHF 5.? / 4.? children up to age 12 and school classes free of charge

    '''Directions''' 15 minutes walk from the train station By bus: Nr. 1, Stop Scherzligen/Schadau by car: Exit "Thun Sud"

    '''Contact:''' Wocher?Panorama Schadaupark 3602 Thun Phone: +41 (0)33 223 24 62 and +41 (0)33 225 84 20 E?mail: [mailto:wocher-panorama@thun.ch wocher-panorama@thun.ch], website: [http://www.kunstmuseumthun.ch]

    Do

  • Shopping in the Baelliz-Street
  • Take a bath in the Aare-River or the lake of Thun. If you stay there in summer, you should visit the "Stranbad Thun"; you can take a bath in the lake and you have a beautiful sight at the Swiss Alpes.
  • Have a drink on the Muehleplatz
  • Have an acrobatic flight in a 1930's Swiss military biplane, based at the Thun Airfield: [http://www.thun-airfield.ch/]
  • The Aare is a strong river. It can be very dangerous to swim in there. It needs some skills and backgrounds to do it safely. For the first time, go to the "Schwaebis-Bad". It is organised, has guards, and the cost is very affordable.

    Eat

  • '''Arts Restaurant Schadau'''. High-end gastronomy in a Loire-style castle, but a tad expensive. Impressive view of the Lake and the Bernese Alps. [http://www.schloss-schadau.ch]
  • '''Elite'''.
  • '''Freienhof'''. High-end gastronomy and bar in a more modern setting. [http://www.freienhof.ch]
  • '''Krone'''.
  • '''Rossli Berntor''', untere Hauptgasse 32; Phone 033 222 48 70. Informal restaurant with a mix of Swiss, Italian and Mexican cuisine. Reasonable prices and huge portions.
  • '''Seepark'''
  • '''Haxa-Chessu'''. Excellent service, authentic local food that's quite inexpensive. Horse meat steaks are on the menu, along with the more traditional rosti, raclette, and gemischter salat. Beer on tap, along with a full bar. It's a bit out of the way, but worth it: Allmendstrasse 172 (Tel. 033 221 56 05) . Get there by taking the #6 bus from the center.
  • Drink

  • El Camino. uehleplatz. 41 (0)33 534 15 24. ttp://www.elcamino.ch/. Very nice place at the beautiful Aare river. It's where young and active people (a lot of boardriders, mountain-bikers etc.) meet for early-evening drinks or bigger parties with live-gigs and local DJs.

  • Cafe Mokka. llmendstrasse 14. 41 (0)33 222 73 91. ucks@mokka.ch. ttp://www.mokka.ch/. A famous culture club with a lot of alternative live music from punk over electro to reggae. There are always good vibes, people of different cultures and nice music.

    </drink>

    Sleep

  • Freienhof. reienhofgasse 3, CH-3600. 58. 8. nfo@freienhof.ch. 1 (0)33 227 50 55. Member of Swiss Quality Hotels Internatioal. Centrally located 4 star hotel, 200m to the city center and only 350m to the railway station. One-person room from 155CHF Two-person room from 255CHF (rates 2009).<br />www.freienhof.ch www.SwissQualityHotels.com

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