The Stadtkirche towers over the Mühleschleuse, which lies almost completely in darkness.

Moments of light in Thun

It's that time of year again: Thun shines as brightly as the starry sky. As the days grow shorter, the cheerful lights of the winter town really come into their own. The Aare and Lake Thun further enhance the magical effect with their reflective surfaces. Towering above it all are Thun Castle and the town church, which also seem to shine particularly brightly on Thun's winter nights. Join us in revelling in the lights of Thun’s town centre.

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In addition to sunlight, which banishes not only darkness but also cold from our planet to such an extent that it is habitable for us, fire is the oldest form of light on Earth. To this day, flames continue to fascinate people, especially in winter. The illuminated Christmas tree has been bringing people together for centuries, even though it is no longer necessarily decorated with real candles.

 

And it is not only in Christianity that light is a symbol of man's redemption from darkness. In the Jewish story of creation, light is the very first thing to be created, and in Buddhism, as in many other religions, enlightenment is the ultimate goal. The town church has probably been shining brighter than its surroundings since the Middle Ages. Even before the invention of electric light, it illuminated the winter nights in Thun, accompanied by the castle since the 12th century.

The impressive fir tree on the Rathausplatz creates a reverent atmosphere.

Thanks to the lights on the Aarequai, the river resembles a painting.

 

Eissstockschiessen auf dem Thuner Mühleplatz.

In our everyday language, we encounter countless metaphors involving light that illustrate its symbolic power. We talk about something ‘dawning’ on us when we understand something important. A ‘luminary’ is an outstanding personality who serves as a role model for others. When we ‘bring something to light’, we reveal a hidden truth.

 

And at the end of a tunnel, we see the light as a sign of hope and new beginnings. This is another reason why light is so relevant at the end of the year. So, is it a primal instinct to follow the light? In the coming months, you will definitely have the opportunity to explore this in Thun.

 

Stroll through the illuminated city centre, marvel at the sparkling lights all around you and perhaps light a candle yourself – we invite you to enjoy the season of light with us.