Hotel du Lac

The Hotel du Lac, owned by the Hofmann family for over 100 years, is more French than Swiss in appearance, with a gray mansard roof and pink façade. The hotel is located directly on the banks of the River Aare as it flows between the two lakes of Brienz and Thun. Bedrooms at the back overlook the river—a peaceful scene of boats and swans gliding below—while those at the front are less blessed, with street and mountain views. There are two dining rooms on the river and one, the Restaurant Rivière, is especially appealing with large windows and lovely river views. In recent years, all 35 guestrooms have been refurbished and offer modern comfort, some with a more modern and other with a classical decor. Although the Hotel du Lac is large, the management does discourage conference and group bookings at the height of season, and if you want a convenient base for excursions, it cannot be surpassed. We include the Hotel du Lac especially for those readers traveling by public transportation as the location is so convenient—just steps from where the trains depart for the Jungfraujoch excursion and minutes from the dock where the boats leave for exploring Lake Brienz.