Goethe on the Wyler Bridge
It is October 13, 1779 – three well-dressed gentlemen step onto the Wyler Bridge down in the valley. One of them would later dictate to his secretary at the Hotel Kreuz in Brienz how they marveled at the “terrifying mountain slopes” and the sight of the majestic “Olzibach” – a note that found its way into his diary. None other than Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was on his second journey through Switzerland, seeking the family of his protégé Peter im Baumgarten in Meiringen. Unsuccessful in this endeavor, he turned back to his true craft and composed during this trip his world-famous poem “Gesang der Geister über den Wassern” (*Song of the Spirits over the Waters).
How the Oltschiburg Came to Brienzwiler
The Alp Oltscheren is an exclave of Brienzwiler. It is located behind the Oltschiburg (Schafberg), which in turn belongs to the municipal community of Brienzwiler. The cultivated part of the Alp Oltscheren extends from Bielen to Oberfeld (1630-1854 m. above sea level). Since 1997, there has been a community cheese dairy on the Alp that produces the flavorful Oltscheren cheese.
The Alp Oltscheren is first mentioned in a document from 1467. Several historical sources, such as various Alprodel (alp records), attest that the joint management of this Alp by the residents of Brienzwiler and the Oltschiburg had to be regulated repeatedly over the centuries. For example, a 15-page Alprodel (alp record) from 1613 meticulously notes which families were allowed to herd how much livestock on the Oltschiburg. To this day, there are various regulations regarding how much livestock is permitted to graze on the Alp. This is especially important since Oltscheren is today a designated Alp that may not be overexploited for sustainability reasons. As a result, the flora (and indirectly, the fauna) at Oltscheren remains intact, and rare plants can be discovered on a hike there.
There are several stories about how this Alp came into the possession of Brienzwiler. In one legend, the Alp was bought or tricked from the devil. In another account, Oltscheren belonged to the Bernese patrician family von Erlach. Due to a family drama, Margaretha von Erlach was forced to sell this area for 800 guilders in order to free her husband Jost von Rudenz from his blood guilt. He had previously killed his father-in-law, Rudolf von Erlach. In other tales, the purchase price was significantly lower, involving a colt, a mother animal, and dried pears. Regardless of which story is true, there is still today field names like Erlacherboden, Rossboden, and Fülliboden on the Oltscheren.
MINERAL EXTRACTION BEHIND THE OLTSCHIBURG
In 1830, alpine farmers discovered mineral fragments of the purest transparency at the foot of the Oltschikopf. What they initially thought to be rock crystal turned out to be fluorspar after being sold to the Natural History Museum in Basel, which was used at that time for optical devices. The detailed report by Wyler-Brattig from 2006 states that years later, an employee of the Zeiss company developed the seam for the commercial extraction of the (supposedly) significant fluorspar deposits.
Flora and Fauna
The flora and fauna in Brienzwiler and the surrounding Haslital are extremely diverse. You experience them best on a walk or an extended hike.
Locations of the Virtual Tour
Griid
GriidOltschiburgSecret flight exercise behind the Oltschiburg with the Fieseler StorchOn November 19, 1946, an American Douglas C-53 (Dakota) crashed in rugged terrain at 3350 m above sea level on the Gauli Glacier. All occupants survived the crash landing in the...
Fresco Schoolhouse
Fresco SchoolhouseFresco Schoolhouse/Allmendnussen"God gave us the nuts; let us crack them together!"This saying accompanies the sgraffito at the Brienzwiler schoolhouse. It was created by Heinz Schild and his team to commemorate the construction of the new gymnasium....
Church
ChurchChurchThe small, cozy wooden church with 160 seats was built with contributions from the canton and the Synod Council, as well as countless volunteer hours from the local community, and was consecrated in 1940.The building materials primarily come from the...
Village square
Village squareHistory of the Coat of Arms“Wyler am Brünig”, as Brienzwiler was once called, has always been located on the important transit axis of the Brünig Pass. The old path led from Kienholz (Brienz) via Hofstetten to the “Schloss” district of Brienzwiler and...
Änderdorf
AenderdorfStart of the Zwergliloch TrailThe circular trail to Zwergliloch is a varied hike around Brienzwiler. Duration is approximately 1 hour. NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS AND SMALL CHILDRENBy Stagecoach over the BrünigThe Brünig Pass road has...