Blümlisalp, Paddle steamer in Thun, Switzerland
The Blümlisalp is a paddle steamer on Lake Thun and one of the last operating vessels of its kind in Switzerland. The boat measures about 60 meters long and travels regularly between several stops around the lake during the warmer months.
The vessel was built in 1906 and served as an important transport for people and goods on the lake for many decades. In the 1990s it underwent major restoration work to ensure its survival for future generations.
The ship is named after the Blüemlisalp massif in the Bernese Oberland. Since 1992 BLS Schifffahrt has run it, and the Vaporama cooperative, which saved it from scrapping, still exists; its transfer agreement of 1 December 2012 obliges BLS to make the vessel available for three public trips a year for 25 years.
The steamer can be easily reached from several stops around the lake where regular sailings depart throughout the day. The best time to visit is during the warmer months when the full schedule of daily sailings is in operation.
The Blümlisalp was ordered in 1905 for 375,000 Swiss francs from Escher, Wyss & Co. in Zurich, and its construction required a covered shipyard 62 metres long plus a 132-metre launching facility costing 165,000 francs. Its inclined compound steam engine drives the paddle wheels.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,014 contributors worldwide.
