Posted by UNESCO now lists over 1,200 World Heritage sites worldwide (as of summer 2024). A distinction is made between valuable natural heritage and world cultural heritage. One of these sites, a World Natural Heritage Site, is in the Bernese Oberland: the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region
The site in the canton of Bern was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 in recognition of its outstanding natural beauty, geological significance and rich biological diversity. The World Natural Heritage Site in the Bernese Alps covers an area of around 824 square kilometers and is known for its dramatic landscapes, including some of the most famous peaks in the Alps. The most important parts of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Swiss Alps are, for example, Jungfrau, Aletsch and Wieschhorn.
The site includes several well-known mountains, including the famous trio (3 neighboring high mountains) Jungfrau (4,158 meters), Eiger (3,967 meters) and Mönch (4,107 meters).
The Aletsch Glacier, the largest and longest glacier in the Alps, stretches over a length of more than 23 kilometers. This glacier is a central feature of the region and is of great importance for scientific research related to climate change.
Landscape: The region of this UNESCO heritage site is characterized by extensive glaciers with valleys, moraines and high mountain passes. The glaciers have shaped the landscape decisively over the millennia and created some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world.
Biodiversity: The UNESCO World Heritage region is home to a wide variety of habitats, from alpine meadows at lower elevations to barren, icy environments at higher elevations. The World Heritage region is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including those that are endemic (found only here) or specifically adapted to the harsh alpine environment.
Scientific value: The Jungfrau-Aletsch region is of great importance for scientific research, particularly in the fields of glaciology (the study of ice and glaciers), geology and climate science. The rapid retreat of glaciers in the region, like almost everywhere else in the Alps and the world, provides important data on the effects of global warming.
Tourism in the UNESCO World Heritage Bernese Oberland
The area is a major tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, skiing and climbing, and most importantly, scenic train rides, especially the famous Jungfrau Railway (cog railway) that takes passengers to the Jungfraujoch, known as the “Top of Europe”. This is the highest railway station in Europe.
Tickets to the Jungfraujoch
Demand is high due to limited capacity on the train etc., we recommend booking online in advance.
Only tickets for trains and cable car to the Jungfraujoch and back are available on this link: More info and booking
There are complete tours from Interlaken with guide, which are hardly more expensive than the tickets with the trains: More info and booking
The UNESCO designation helps to protect this unique area and preserve its natural beauty and ecological integrity for future generations. The Jungfraujoch in particular is now an absolute focus of tourism in Switzerland and is visited by many European tourists from overseas.
Other World Heritage Sites near the Bernese Oberland in the canton of Bern
The old town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and characteristic sandstone buildings. The city, which was founded in the 12th century, impresses with its enclosed arcades, the Zytglogge tower and the Bern Minster.
The prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but they extend across several cantons in Switzerland and also into neighboring countries such as Austria, Germany, and Italy. In the canton of Bern there are several of these pile dwelling sites that offer important insights into life in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. These include: Münchenwiler, an important pile dwelling settlement on Lake Neuchâtel, Lüscherz, another pile dwelling settlement located on Lake Biel, and Eschert, this site is also on Lake Biel.