Prezentare engleza - Interlaken

2.  InterlakenInterlaken is a town andis a town and
municipalitymunicipality in thein the Interlaken-Interlaken-
OberhasliOberhasli
administrative districtadministrative district in thein the
SwissSwiss canton of Berncanton of Bern. The. The
town is located on thetown is located on the BödeliBödeli,,
betweenbetween LakeLake ThunThun andand
Lake BrienzLake Brienz, and alongside the, and alongside the
Aare riverAare river that flows betweenthat flows between
the two lakes. Transport routesthe two lakes. Transport routes
to the east and west alongsideto the east and west alongside
the lakes are complementedthe lakes are complemented
by a route south into theby a route south into the
mountains following themountains following the
LütschineLütschine riverriver..

3. HistoryHistory
 Until 1891, Interlaken was knownUntil 1891, Interlaken was known
asas AarmühleAarmühle.The convent of the.The convent of the
Augustinian CanonsAugustinian Canons was builtwas built
around 1133 when it wasaround 1133 when it was
mentioned asmentioned as inter lacus Madoninter lacus Madon
and lasted until 1528. The mill onand lasted until 1528. The mill on
the left bank of thethe left bank of the AareAare river wasriver was
first mentioned in 1365 asfirst mentioned in 1365 as AmuliAmuli,,
while the town on the right bankwhile the town on the right bank
was mentioned in 1239 aswas mentioned in 1239 as villavilla
InderlappenInderlappen..
 Previously, printing, textiles, andPreviously, printing, textiles, and
to a smaller extentto a smaller extent watchmakingwatchmaking
were also of importance, but todaywere also of importance, but today
tourism is the most significanttourism is the most significant
source of income. Interlaken issource of income. Interlaken is
one of the oldestone of the oldest
tourist resorts in Switzerlandtourist resorts in Switzerland, and, and
it remains one of the most popular.it remains one of the most popular.

4. Rise of tourismRise of tourism
 Interlaken's reputation asInterlaken's reputation as
international resort started aroundinternational resort started around
1800 due to the landscapes of1800 due to the landscapes of
FranzFranz NiklausNiklaus KönigKönig and otherand other
Swiss landscape artistsSwiss landscape artists. The. The
success of thesuccess of the UnspunnenfestUnspunnenfest, a, a
festival offestival of Swiss cultureSwiss culture, in 1805, in 1805
and 1808 brought many tourists toand 1808 brought many tourists to
Interlaken. Starting in 1820, theyInterlaken. Starting in 1820, they
came for mountain air and spacame for mountain air and spa
treatment and the large Kursaaltreatment and the large Kursaal
opened in 1859 to provide anopened in 1859 to provide an
elegant spa. The many hotelselegant spa. The many hotels
combined with good transportationcombined with good transportation
links made it easy for these earlylinks made it easy for these early
tourists to visit. In 1835 atourists to visit. In 1835 a
steam shipsteam ship route opened alongroute opened along
LakeLake ThunThun fromfrom ThunThun, followed in, followed in
1839 by another along1839 by another along
Lake BrienzLake Brienz fromfrom BrienzBrienz..

5. Modern InterlakenModern Interlaken
 The frantic growth of the tourism industry abruptly endedThe frantic growth of the tourism industry abruptly ended
in 1914 whenin 1914 when World War IWorld War I started, though it resumedstarted, though it resumed
somewhat after the war.somewhat after the war. World War IIWorld War II brought anotherbrought another
dramatic slow down. Interlaken started to recover fromdramatic slow down. Interlaken started to recover from
thethe effects of the wareffects of the war in 1955 as Interlaken re-brandedin 1955 as Interlaken re-branded
itself as a convention and conference center. Today, theitself as a convention and conference center. Today, the
two nuclei villages (Aarmühle and the village around thetwo nuclei villages (Aarmühle and the village around the
Bailiff's CastleBailiff's Castle) have been joined by new construction) have been joined by new construction
between them. The municipalities of Matten andbetween them. The municipalities of Matten and
Unterseen are also connected by new construction toUnterseen are also connected by new construction to
Interlaken and share a common infrastructure. AInterlaken and share a common infrastructure. A
referendum to merge the three political municipalitiesreferendum to merge the three political municipalities
into one was voted down in 1914 and again in 1927.into one was voted down in 1914 and again in 1927.

6. TourismTourism
 The town is principally a base from which to explore the surroundingThe town is principally a base from which to explore the surrounding
areas. Among the main attractions are the mountains of theareas. Among the main attractions are the mountains of the
Jungfrau region, including theJungfrau region, including the JungfrauJungfrau, (4,158 m (13,642 ft)), the, (4,158 m (13,642 ft)), the
MönchMönch (4,107 m (13,474 ft)) and the(4,107 m (13,474 ft)) and the EigerEiger (3,970 m (13,020 ft)).(3,970 m (13,020 ft)).
Whilst the peaks of these mountains are accessible only toWhilst the peaks of these mountains are accessible only to
mountaineers, a sequence of connectingmountaineers, a sequence of connecting mountain railwaysmountain railways givesgives
access to theaccess to the JungfraujochJungfraujoch, a, a colcol (3,450 m (11,320 ft)) between the(3,450 m (11,320 ft)) between the
Jungfrau and the Mönch, which is the highest point in EuropeJungfrau and the Mönch, which is the highest point in Europe
reachable by train.reachable by train.
 Closer to Interlaken, theCloser to Interlaken, the HarderHarder KulmKulm (1,322 m (4,337 ft)), just to the(1,322 m (4,337 ft)), just to the
north of the town, and thenorth of the town, and the SchynigeSchynige PlattePlatte (2,076 m (6,811 ft)), just(2,076 m (6,811 ft)), just
to the south, are also accessible by railway, and provide extensiveto the south, are also accessible by railway, and provide extensive
views of the higher mountains.views of the higher mountains. LakeLake ThunThun andand Lake BrienzLake Brienz are bothare both
close to the town, and theclose to the town, and the Aar riverAar river flows through the town. Boatflows through the town. Boat
trips operate on both lakes, serving various lakeside towns. One oftrips operate on both lakes, serving various lakeside towns. One of
these,these, BrienzBrienz, is the starting point for Switzerland's last remaining, is the starting point for Switzerland's last remaining
steam operatedsteam operated mountain railway, themountain railway, the Brienz-Brienz-RothornRothorn railwayrailway..

7. TOURISMTOURISM
 Jungfrau ParkJungfrau Park, an, an
amusement parkamusement park, is situated just, is situated just
to the south of Interlaken. It wasto the south of Interlaken. It was
originally opened as Mystery Park,originally opened as Mystery Park,
a paranormal-based theme parka paranormal-based theme park
owned by authorowned by author Erich vonErich von
DänikenDäniken, but was closed in 2006, but was closed in 2006
after three years because ofafter three years because of
financial difficulties. It re-opened infinancial difficulties. It re-opened in
its current guise in 2009.its current guise in 2009.
 Interlaken has a large selection ofInterlaken has a large selection of
hotels of various grades, many ofhotels of various grades, many of
which are located along thewhich are located along the
HöhewegHöheweg, a street that links the, a street that links the
towns two railway stations andtowns two railway stations and
offers views of the mountains.offers views of the mountains.
Other hotels are clustered aroundOther hotels are clustered around
one or other of the two stations, orone or other of the two stations, or
located across the river in thelocated across the river in the
neighbouring municipality ofneighbouring municipality of
UnterseenUnterseen..

8. EventsEvents
 In September, theIn September, the Jungfrau MarathonJungfrau Marathon
starts in Interlaken.starts in Interlaken.
 TheThe UnspunnenfestUnspunnenfest is a festival held inis a festival held in
Interlaken and the neighbouringInterlaken and the neighbouring
communities ofcommunities of MattenMatten andand WilderswilWilderswil
approximately every twelve years. Theapproximately every twelve years. The
festival highlights traditionalfestival highlights traditional
Swiss cultureSwiss culture and featuresand features
competitions ofcompetitions of SteinstossenSteinstossen (stone(stone
put),put), SchwingenSchwingen (wrestling) and(wrestling) and
yodellingyodelling. The last Unspunnenfest was. The last Unspunnenfest was
held in September 2006. The nextheld in September 2006. The next
celebration is scheduled for the yearcelebration is scheduled for the year
2017.2017.
 On 15 July 2007, theOn 15 July 2007, the
Red Bull Air Race World SeriesRed Bull Air Race World Series waswas
held on theheld on the airportairport situated nearsituated near
Interlaken.Interlaken.
 During Summer, there is theDuring Summer, there is the
Greenfield Music FestivalGreenfield Music Festival on theon the
outskirts of Interlakenoutskirts of Interlaken

9. ReligionReligion
 From the 2000 census, 1,139 or 22.3% wereFrom the 2000 census, 1,139 or 22.3% were
Roman CatholicRoman Catholic, while 2,873 or 56.1% belonged, while 2,873 or 56.1% belonged
to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of theto the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the
population, there were 83 members of anpopulation, there were 83 members of an
Orthodox church (or about 1.62% of theOrthodox church (or about 1.62% of the
population), there were 4 individuals (or aboutpopulation), there were 4 individuals (or about
0.08% of the population) who belonged to the0.08% of the population) who belonged to the
Christian Catholic Church, and there were 374Christian Catholic Church, and there were 374
individuals (or about 7.31% of the population)individuals (or about 7.31% of the population)
who belonged to another Christian church.who belonged to another Christian church.

10. BBibliographyibliography
www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com
www.ghidturistic.comwww.ghidturistic.com