Rest day in Spiez, castle, mountain and lake views

Rest day in Spiez, castle, mountain and lake views - Back to the Swiss Alps and on to the Istrian Peninsula - CycleBlaze

From Back to the Swiss Alps and on to the Istrian Peninsula

By Jane Fletcher & Marcia Meale

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May 27, 2025

Today was built in as a rest day, we even had some sunshine and the clouds parted a little over the mountains so that we could see some snow covered peaks. We explored Spiez, toured the castle, walked along the shoreline of Lake Thun to the village of Faulensee, and had a late lunch on the lake front.

The castle’s chapel is across the courtyard from the main castle

Throughout the castle there are many ornately carved wooden doors and doorways. They are pretty amazing.

Many of the windows were surrounded by highly decorated spaces

There were many ornately carved wooden ceilings

The kitchen was set up to resemble what it might have been like including game caught for the next meal

Although they were able to cook in this kitchen baking took place in the village

I guess this is pretty self explanatory. However, I think we would be a little shocked at having to use hay for wiping….

This hallway and floor was restored to the 1600s to 1800s included portraits of past inhabitants as well as a timeline of what was happening in the castle as well as the outside world.

Can you imagine the talent needed to carve all of these doors in the timeframe in which they were made?

The library was a room that was completely paneled with exquisite carvings

The castle at one time had a library of over 3000 books but they were sold at auction in the late 1800s. The current foundation has been able to regain about 250 of those original books.

The castle rock has been inhabited since at least 650 AD

In about 1250 the stone keep was built which was the first part of the current castle to be built.

In 1750 the castle looks much like it does today

View from castle looking toward the chapel and lake Thun

At the time of the building of the keep people would have slept in these window openings. They would have slept on a mattress stuffed with leaves on the floor between the two benches

Going up, up, up toward the top of the keep.

There were costumes to try on complete with headgear from the timeframe.

View from hole on one of the shutters at the top of the keep

Views from the top of the keep out over the town

The castles chapel and lake Thun from the keep

Some of the castles spires dwarfed by the keep

A wooden contained bed with wonderful ornamentation

The courtyard was paved with cobblestones on edge

The castle was next door to this vineyard

Have you ever seen a boat equipped with a slide???

On our way around the lake we passed a space where the had planted gardens dedicated to different vegetables from around the world bordered with flowers

We took the footpath around the lake to the next village

Along the way we stopped to check the water temperature. Brrrr it was cold! But not completely frigid.

We went through several sections where the trees bent over the path practically touching the water.

We also found an automatic WC along the way. You push a button and the doors swish open after you are done the doors close and the WC cleans itself. Water or cleaning fluid sprays all around inside…..

These sheep were relaxing in the grass while munching a little bit…

We started to be able to see a little more of the snow capped mountains

We passed several beautiful roses gardens

And were visited by these little birds looking for a handout. They told their friends and all of a sudden there were about 5 or 6 birds looking for a handout….

We decided to keep our lunch to ourselves. We had Zander fish. I had never heard of it before but it was very good.

Lots of layers for different weather throughout the day

Later in the day when we got back to our hotel it cleared up even more

Finally we could really see the snow capped mountains surrounding us in the early evening.

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