Thun, Medieval municipality in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Thun is a town in the administrative district of Thun in the Bernese Oberland, where the Aare River flows out of Lake Thun and continues between Alpine peaks. The old town spreads across both riverbanks with a castle sitting on a hill above the western side.
A Celtic settlement at this location was fortified in 1033 when it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The name derives from the Celtic word for fortified place.
The 16th-century town hall in the center still hosts public meetings and local gatherings. Residents often sit on the steps along the lakeshore, watching boats pass by while the covered walkways along the main street shelter shoppers and pedestrians.
The railway station sits south of the old town and offers connections to other Swiss cities, while buses serve the different neighborhoods. A walk from the lakeshore to the castle takes about 15 minutes uphill.
The panorama by Marquard Wocher from 1814 shows the landscape on a circular canvas measuring 125 feet (38 meters) around. It ranks among the oldest surviving circular paintings in the world.
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