Oberhofen am Thunersee facts for kids

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Oberhofen am Thunersee

Oberhofen Castle and lake front

Coat of arms

Oberhofen am Thunersee

Location in Switzerland

Oberhofen am Thunersee

Location in Canton of Bern

Switzerland

Area

• Total

2.71 km² (1.05 sq mi)

Elevation

585 m (1,919 ft)

Population

(Dec 2020 )

• Total

2,445

• Density

902.2/km² (2,337/sq mi)

Postal code

3653

Surrounded by

Heiligenschwendi, Hilterfingen, Sigriswil, Spiez

Oberhofen am Thunersee is a lovely town in Switzerland. It's located in the Bern area, right by the beautiful Lake Thun. It's a municipality, which is like a small local government area.

History of Oberhofen
Geography of Oberhofen
Coat of Arms
People of Oberhofen
Economy of Oberhofen
Important Places and Heritage Sites
- Oberhofen Castle
- Wichterheer-Gut Estate
Religion in Oberhofen
Education in Oberhofen
Images for kids
See also

History of Oberhofen

Early Settlements and the First Castle

Oberhofen am Thunersee was first mentioned in old records in 1133. This means it's been around for a very long time! People lived here even earlier, during the Bronze Age. Later, in the Middle Ages, a noble family called the Freiherr von Oberhofen built a castle on a hill.

Around 1130, this family also helped start Interlaken Monastery. They gave some of their land to the monastery. A bit later, they gave more land to a group of priests in Amsoldingen.

New Castle and Changing Owners

By 1200, the castle and village changed hands. A daughter of the family, Ita, married into the von Eschenbach family. This family then built a new castle right on the shores of Lake Thun. This new castle even had a moat around it!

In 1306, the von Eschenbach family had to sell Oberhofen and its castle to the Habsburgs. The Habsburgs were a powerful royal family. They put other noble families, like the Kyburgs, in charge of the area. The Kyburgs also owned Thun Castle.

Bern Takes Over

After some big battles in the late 1300s, the city of Bern started to take over lands from the Habsburgs. Bern occupied Oberhofen in 1386. By 1397, Bern had bought or taken all the land and rights in the area. The very next year, they sold the castle and the land to a citizen of Bern named Ludwig von Seftigen.

Over the next few centuries, the town and castle were owned by several important families from Bern. Eventually, Bern took back the castle and lands. They made Oberhofen Castle the main office for the area. After a French invasion in 1798, Oberhofen became part of a new canton. Later, in 1803, it joined the Thun District.

Vineyards and Tourism

For a long time, growing grapes and making wine was very important in Oberhofen. You can even see grapes on the town's coat of arms! But in the 1800s, wine production went down because of new wines from other places and plant diseases. By 1911, there were almost no vineyards left.

Many people left Oberhofen in the 1800s, often moving to North America, because there wasn't enough work. Later, in 1936, some small vineyards were planted again.

In 1864, a fire destroyed part of the town. But this also made space for new buildings. In the 1870s, Oberhofen became a popular place for health spas and hotels. A road along the lake was finished in 1884, making it easier for tourists to visit. A tram line also opened in 1913.

However, World War I stopped tourism. It slowly came back between the wars, but not as much as before. World War II also caused tourism to drop. It wasn't until the 1950s that tourism really recovered. New vacation homes and a beach walkway were built. Today, many people who live in Oberhofen work in nearby cities like Thun and Bern.

Oberhofen Castle Today

After 1803, the castle was owned by private families. From 1849 to 1852, the Pourtàles family made the castle look like it does today. In 1940, an American named William Maul Measy created a foundation to take care of the castle. Since 1952, it has been part of the Historical Museum of Bern. You can visit a branch of the museum inside the castle!

Oberhofen has always been connected to the nearby village of Hilterfingen for church matters. Even though they became separate towns in 1834, their main church is still in Oberhofen.

Geography of Oberhofen

Oberhofen am Thunersee is located on the northern shore of Lake Thun. It's about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city of Thun. Thun is where the Aare river flows out of the lake.

Most of the land in Oberhofen is covered by forests (about 52.6%). About 20.2% is used for farming. The rest is for buildings, roads, or is covered by the lake.

The village church of Hilterfingen is actually within Oberhofen's borders. To the southeast is the village of Gunten. Up the steep mountain to the northeast is Heiligenschwendi, but you can only reach it by walking.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Oberhofen am Thunersee shows a vine tree. It grows from green hills and has two grapes. The background is split into red and white sections. This design shows the town's history with vineyards and wine.

People of Oberhofen

Oberhofen am Thunersee has a population of about 2,366 people. Most people (about 94.3%) speak German as their main language. A smaller number of people speak Albanian or French.

About 16.3% of the population are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up 55.1%, and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 28.7%.

Many people in Oberhofen were born in the town or in the same canton (Bern). About 12.3% were born outside Switzerland.

The number of people living in Oberhofen has changed over time:

Economy of Oberhofen

In Oberhofen am Thunersee, many people have jobs. There are three main types of jobs:

Primary sector: These jobs are about getting raw materials, like farming or forestry.
Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things, like in factories or construction.
Tertiary sector: These jobs are about providing services, like working in shops, hotels, restaurants, or healthcare.

Most jobs in Oberhofen are in the service sector. Many people who live in Oberhofen travel to other towns for work, especially to Thun and Bern.

Important Places and Heritage Sites

Oberhofen has some very important historical places. These are called heritage sites of national significance.

Oberhofen Castle

The most famous place is Oberhofen Castle. It's a beautiful castle right by the lake. It dates back to the Middle Ages but has been changed and updated over many years. Today, part of the castle is a museum. It also has a lovely garden by the lake, designed in the English style, with many special trees.

Wichterheer-Gut Estate

Another important place is the Wichterheer-Gut estate. It's also by the lake, south of the castle. This estate has a special museum called the Museum of Timekeeping and Mechanical Music. It also shows art from the 20th century made by local artists.

Oberhofen Castle
Wichterheer estate

Religion in Oberhofen

Most people in Oberhofen belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number are Roman Catholic. There are also people who belong to other Christian churches, or are Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. Some people do not belong to any church.

Education in Oberhofen

In Oberhofen, many people have finished high school. A good number have also gone on to college or university.

The school system in Bern canton (where Oberhofen is) starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. Then, children go to Primary school for six years. After that, they have three years of lower Secondary school. Students are grouped by their abilities. After secondary school, students can go to more schools or start an apprenticeship (learning a job while working).

During the 2012-2013 school year, about 243 students went to school in Oberhofen. This included students in kindergarten and primary school. Some students came from other towns to study in Oberhofen.