Interlaken.

Interlaken lies on a narrow strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the glaciated peaks of the Jungfrau massif rising directly behind the town. The name, Latin for 'between lakes', describes the setting exactly. At the centre of town, the Höhematte meadow has been kept free of buildings since the nineteenth century, so the view of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch stays open and unbroken. Belle époque hotels line this park, a reminder that Interlaken was one of the first great Alpine resorts, drawing travellers for mountain air and lake views since Victorian times. Both lakes run turquoise-green with glacial meltwater and are edged by promenades and small boat harbours. The slopes around town draw hikers and paragliders, and Harder Kulm, a viewpoint above Interlaken, gives a wide panorama over both lakes at once. This combination of grand hotel architecture, lake scenery, and a mountain backdrop close enough to touch has kept Interlaken a central point in the Bernese Oberland for well over a century.