The story of a special place
The Neuhaus is first mentioned in 1539, but its importance dates back to the early Middle Ages. Under the name ‘Sust zu Platten’, the place served for centuries as a central transhipment point for goods and travellers to and from the Bernese Oberland. The roads along Lake Thun were dangerous and barely passable, which is why traffic mainly travelled by water. As early as 1500, the Interlaken monastery used Neuhaus as a transhipment station. Later, the state of Bern took over ownership and had the facilities renovated in 1543. The current building stands on foundation walls dating from 1678.
With the arrival of the first steamboat in 1835, Neuhaus became the most important landing stage on the upper Lake Thun. Up to a hundred horse-drawn carriages waited there for newly arriving guests. It was only with the opening of the Bödelibahn railway and later the railway that the harbour began to lose its importance. Since 1940, Neuhaus has once again been an integral part of the Lake Thun shipping network.
Time and again, natural forces have shaped the history of Neuhaus. The Lombach stream destroyed the complex completely on several occasions, and the floods of 1999 and 2005 also caused extensive damage to the main building and the residence. Despite these challenges, the location has continued to develop thanks to its exceptional position on the lake.
Today, both the hotel restaurant and the historic ‘Sust’ building are listed as historic monuments. The Ritschard family has been committed to preserving and developing this traditional property for many decades. Careful renovations, sensitive treatment of the historic building fabric and numerous original works by mountain painter Gustav Ritschard characterise the character of the building. The Neuhaus is currently run by Jürgen Ritschard and his siblings Andreas, Evelyne and Nicolas Zenger. They are continuing the family tradition and ensuring that the Hotel Restaurant Neuhaus zum See remains a place where history, nature, hospitality and culture come together in a special way.