The town's origin
The monastery preceded the settlement and gave it its name, between the lakes.
Dietrich Michael Weidmann — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Johann Rudolf Rahn — Public domain · Gerd Fahrenhorst — CC BY 4.0 · Anonym/e Künstler/in — Public domain
A group of buildings east of central Interlaken, what remains of an Augustinian monastery founded in the twelfth century, and the origin of the town itself: the name Interlaken means between the lakes and belonged to the monastery before it belonged to the settlement. The monastery closed in the sixteenth century with the Reformation, and its buildings later became an administrative seat and then cantonal government offices. What can be seen today is the church, the courtyard and wings of the old fabric, most of which remains in official use. That means the visit is limited: you walk in and around the courtyard and see the church, and there is no museum route. It is a matter of minutes within a walk of the town rather than a destination. Its value is that it is almost the only historic thing in Interlaken, a town people come to for mountains and lakes rather than history. If your day is wet or you are waiting for a train, it is a reasonable stop.
The monastery preceded the settlement and gave it its name, between the lakes.
Most of the complex is cantonal government offices, so the visit is limited to the courtyard and church.
Interlaken is a town of mountains and lakes rather than history, and this is nearly its only exception.
Klosterstrasse, east of central Interlaken
HöhematteAn open grass meadow lying in the exact centre of Interlaken, between the two ra4 minutes walk4.5
Kunsthaus InterlakenA small art gallery in central Interlaken, running temporary exhibitions by Swis7 minutes walk4.3
Unterseen Old TownUnterseen is a small town adjoining Interlaken, separated from it only by the ri13 minutes walk4.7
HeimwehfluhThe Heimwehfluh is a small hill (669 metres) right on the edge of Interlaken, cl18 minutes walk3.8
Harder Kulm'Top of Interlaken' — the town's house mountain standing directly behind it: a r18 minutes walk4.6As a short stop yes, as a destination no. Interlaken is a base town for the mountains, and time there goes to the Jungfrau, the Schilthorn and the two lakes. But if the weather is poor or you are waiting for a train, this is the closest thing to history in the town.
Only partly. The church keeps its own hours, while the rest of the complex is government administration and cannot be visited. Expect to walk the courtyard and look from outside rather than an interior visit.