ViaBerna - Stage 15 Schynige Platte - First (king stage)

At the mountain hotel above the railway station, the Schynige Platte panorama trail begins in the direction of the Tuba viewpoint. There you will find a magnificent view of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun as well as the Bernese Alps with the trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It continues along the secured ridge, past alpine rose bushes and limestone, to the foot of the Oberberghorn. The summit of the rocky tooth can be climbed via steep ladders. The path then runs towards Loucherhorn, which is bypassed to the south. Again, you enjoy a wonderful view of the high alpine peaks. Through a natural gate in a rock ridge, the Güwtürli, you turn into the rocky landscape of the Güw. Small spruces struggling for survival form the only spots of color in the karst landscape. At the Egg you change to the flank of the rock towers of the Sägissa. The ascent to the Männdlenen saddle runs through a rocky valley floor. It then continues to the Fulegg. The route then runs under the Faulhorn, where a detour to the mountain hotel is possible. This is followed by the descent to the Bachalpsee. The view over the dark water surface to the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Finsteraarhorn is incomparable and widens considerably at First with the Grindelwald glacier and Eiger.

Schynige Platte means "Shining Plate." This name is owed to a widely visible slate rock wall. This reflects the light especially intensively after rainfalls and looks like a shining plate.

The Berghotel Faulhorn is the oldest mountain hotel in Switzerland and was put into operation in 1832. Fritz Bohren, the legendary Pintenfritz, managed the house from 1888 to 1926. His hospitality must have been as excellent as his wit. To a guest who carefully combed himself on the way to dinner, he reportedly whispered tenderly: "Oh don’t comb so much, we are already combed!" And when billing, he is said to have occasionally written at the end: "Take it or leave it – 5 francs." If one of the wealthiest guests asked about this service, he would have crossed out the item and mumbled: "It doesn't work, it doesn't work!"

Crystal clear water, in which the Schreckhorn is reflected when there is no wind: this is what the small and picturesque Bachalpsee at First is known for and popular with photographers. The lake consists of two parts separated by a natural dam.

First is a mountain ridge on the sunny side above the Grindelwald valley. Developed with a gondola lift and equipped with various tourist attractions, the place is a popular excursion destination.