Harder Kulm | Interlaken

Harder Kulm is the local mountain of Interlaken, serving as a primary vantage point at an elevation of 1,322 meters above sea level in the Emmental Alps.

Visual Characteristics

The site is dominated by a palatial restaurant featuring a red-tiled roof and a turret, built in the Art Nouveau style. The most prominent feature is the Two Lakes Bridge, a cantilevered observation deck with a glass floor section that extends over the slope, providing a vertical perspective of the terrain below.

Location & Access Logistics

Base Station: Located at Harderstrasse 14, 3800 Interlaken, a short 5-minute walk from the Interlaken Ost railway station.

Funicular (Harderbahn): The primary mode of access. The red funicular climbs a gradient of up to 64% through a dense forest.

Duration: The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

Hiking: A steep, zigzagging forest trail (Red-White-Red mountain path) connects the base to the summit; the ascent takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours.

Historical & Geographical Origin

The Harderbahn was inaugurated in 1908. Geologically, Harder Kulm marks the start of the Brienz-Rothorn ridge. Positioned between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, it offers a direct view of the "Bödeli," the alluvial plain on which Interlaken is situated.

Key Highlights & Activities

The View: A symmetrical panorama featuring Lake Brienz to the left, Lake Thun to the right, and the "Big Three" peaks (Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau) directly ahead.

Two Lakes Bridge: A platform for photography that projects out from the mountain, allowing for unobstructed views of the Interlaken isthmus.

Harder Kulm Restaurant: Offers traditional Swiss cuisine (fondue, rösti) with indoor and outdoor seating.

Evening Folklore: During summer months, live Swiss folk music (alphorns and accordions) is often performed on the terrace.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Accessibility: The funicular and the summit paths to the restaurant and bridge are wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Connectivity: High-speed 5G signal is stable at the summit.

Digital: Real-time departures for the funicular are displayed at both the top and bottom stations.

Best Time to Visit

Sunset: Harder Kulm is the premier location in the region for sunset viewing, as the sun sets behind the mountains bordering Lake Thun.

Evening: The funicular operates late into the evening (until approx. 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM in peak season), allowing for views of the illuminated town of Interlaken.

Facts & Legends

A verified fact: Harder Kulm is not a "peak" in the geological sense but the end-point of the Harder ridge. A local legend: The "Harder-Potschete" mask tradition is linked to the "Hardermannli," a rock face on the mountain that resembles the face of a man, visible from the town below.

Nearby Landmarks

Interlaken Ost Station – 0.5km South

Alpine Wildlife Park – 0.1km from the base station (features ibex and marmots)

Lake Brienz – 2.0km East

Lake Thun – 3.0km West