Niesen, Mountain summit in Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Niesen is a mountain in the Bernese Alps that rises to 2,362 meters with a distinctive pyramidal shape standing above Lake Thun. Its steep sides and sharp peak make it recognizable from many viewpoints across the region.

The mountain was originally called Yesen, after the yellow gentian that still flowers on its slopes; the name shifted to Niesen over time. In 1856 the first guesthouse was built on Niesen Kulm, reached on foot, by horse or mule, or in chairs carried by four men. Construction of the Niesenbahn began in 1906 and the funicular opened on 15 July 1910, giving access to the summit.

The name Niesen evolved from «Yesen», an old term for the yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) that still flowers on the mountain. The peak is also called the Swiss Pyramid because of its shape, and it appears as an abstracted pyramidal form in a 1915 watercolour by Paul Klee.

The Niesenbahn funicular leaves from Mülenen, near Reichenbach, and climbs to Niesen Kulm at 2,362 metres. The summit lies on the boundary between Wimmis and Reichenbach im Kandertal. Weather at the top changes quickly, so bring a jacket even when the lake shore below is warm.

The stairway beside the funicular has 11,674 steps, making it the longest in the world. It is opened to the public only once a year, for the Niesen Treppenlauf race, limited to 220 runners. The course starts at 693 m, covers 3,404 m and climbs 1,669 m, with gradients up to 66 and 68 percent.