Vintage: Historic B&W photos of Bernese Oberland, Switzerland (1890s)

Vintage: Historic B&W photos of Bernese Oberland, Switzerland (1890s)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

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

Iseltwald and Brienz Lake, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Well and Wetterhorn Mountains, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Well and Wetterhorn Mountains, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

General view of Meiringen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

General view of Meiringen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Saint Beatenberg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Saint Beatenberg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Grindelwald, chalet and Mount Wetterhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Grindelwald, chalet and Mount Wetterhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Grindelwald, Hotel Bären, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Grindelwald, Hotel Bären, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Jungfrau and Scheidegg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Jungfrau and Scheidegg, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Scheidegg, Hotel Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Scheidegg, Hotel Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Schynige Platte, with view of Gummihorn and Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Schynige Platte, with view of Gummihorn and Jungfrau, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Thun, general view, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Thun, general view, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Oberhofen village, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Oberhofen village, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Beatenberg village and Hotel Silberhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Beatenberg village and Hotel Silberhorn, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Interlaken and Unterseen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Interlaken and Unterseen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Höheweg resort area, Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Höheweg resort area, Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025