Iseltwald is probably best known for the stunning photos taken of the Schloss Seeburg situated in Lake Brienz. This fairytale small village is situated on the southern shore of the very beautiful Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. It is a picturesque little village and it is definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for a quiet lakeside Swiss village with fabulous views and traditional architecture.
Due to the fact that Iseltwald is not a big town filled with shops, this little hidden gem might just be the perfect stop if you want to escape the tourists and crowded places.
Iseltwald Switzerland is a small village on the left bank of Lake Brienz. It’s mostly a fishing village with a population of around 400.
There is a lot to do in this area. You could walk the village while snapping photos or take a picturesque hike in the mountains. If that’s not your flavor, you could participate in an abundance of lake activities such as fishing or swimming. You’re hungry you say? Then try out one of the many restaurants in the area. I’d venture to say this is a place for just about anybody.
Iseltwald Location
Iseltwald is in the Canton of Bern on Lake Brienz. The drive from Geneva is two and a half hours. If you’re traveling from Bern, the drive takes about one hour, while from Zurich, the drive takes one and a half hours. Similar to most places in Switzerland, you can take the SBB train from your starting point.
We drove in from Geneva and parked just outside the city at this lot. The fee was very reasonable at 0.50 CHF per hour. Arrive early though as this parking lot fills up quickly. There is other parking in the city, which is a bit more expensive at 1 CHF per hour.
Seeburg Castle
We heard of Iseltwald Switzerland in the past, and have floated past the scenic town while riding a boat ride on Lake Brienz. However, we’d never actually visited the small fishing village. It seems the hit Korean show, Crash Landing on You, made Iseltwald Switzerland a popular destination. That could be why many of our friends recommended this location for us to visit. So here we are, crash landing on Iseltwald Switzerland.
Iseltwald Overview
Iseltwald Switzerland is a small village on the left bank of Lake Brienz. It’s mostly a fishing village with a population of around 400.
There is a lot to do in this area. You could walk the village while snapping photos or take a picturesque hike in the mountains. If that’s not your flavor, you could participate in an abundance of lake activities such as fishing or swimming. You’re hungry you say? Then try out one of the many restaurants in the area. I’d venture to say this is a place for just about anybody.
We’re simple. For us, the main attractions were the castle on the peninsula and the pier at the entrance of the town (also known as “the landing stage”).
Iseltwald Location
Iseltwald is in the Canton of Bern on Lake Brienz. The drive from Geneva is two and a half hours. If you’re traveling from Bern, the drive takes about one hour, while from Zurich, the drive takes one and a half hours. Similar to most places in Switzerland, you can take the SBB train from your starting point.
We drove in from Geneva and parked just outside the city at this lot. The fee was very reasonable at 0.50 CHF per hour. Arrive early though as this parking lot fills up quickly. There is other parking in the city, which is a bit more expensive at 1 CHF per hour.
Seeburg Castle
The Seeburg Castle on the peninsula of Iseltwald was the main attraction for us. It is simply amazing. I’m not sure if this is always the case, but at our time of visit, the gates to the grounds were closed. While it would have been nice to view the grounds, the view from afar is stunning and is what we came for.
It’s rather difficult to find consistent information about this castle. Most sites say it’s a rehabilitation center. This seems to have been the case from 1986 until sometime around 2015 (based on a local newspaper article). While I’m unclear, my understanding is that it’s privately owned at this time (or at least is for sale).
Crash Landing on You Dock or Landing Stage
The second site for us is the pier/dock from Crash Landing on You. This is a cool little site. The dock is part of an open plaza that’s surrounded by Swiss-style hotels. It’s a comfortable place to sit while enjoying gorgeous views. You’ll see mountains on both sides and a far-out view of Lake Brienz.
