In 1729, Albrecht von Haller published the poem Die Alpen about his travels through the alpine regions. This combined with other reports and alpine paintings started the tourism industry in the Bernese Oberland. By 1800 there were resorts on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz (especially at Interlaken between the two lakes). Shortly thereafter the resorts expanded into the alpine valleys (Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald), and began attracting English guests. However, because of the widespread poverty of the 19th century many residents of the Simmen valley and the Interlaken district emigrated to North America, Germany or Russia.
In the late 19th century, new transportation links made it easier for people to travel into the valleys. The Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway opened in 1913 and became the largest privately owned railroad in Switzerland. The collapse of the hotel industry during both world wars forced a diversification of the economy.
Iseltwald and Brienz Lake, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Well and Wetterhorn Mountains, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
General view of Meiringen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Saint Beatenberg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Grindelwald, chalet and Mount Wetterhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Grindelwald, Hotel Bären, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Jungfrau and Scheidegg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Scheidegg, Hotel Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Schynige Platte, with view of Gummihorn and Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Thun, general view, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Oberhofen village, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Beatenberg village and Hotel Silberhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Interlaken and Unterseen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Höheweg resort area, Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
