St Beatus Caves

The caves run back about a kilometre into the cliff above the northern shore of Lake Thun, following an active underground stream, so the visit is a walk beside running water past flowstone, curtains, columns and small cascades, all lit and railed. The legend attached to them is specific: Beatus, an Irish missionary of the sixth century, is said to have lived here as a hermit after expelling a dragon from the cave, and his name is on the site, the village below and the lake steamer. A small museum covers cave research and the region's karst. The approach path from the road climbs steeply past a waterfall, which surprises people who expect a cave entrance at car level.

What you actually see

• An active stream cave - the path following running water for about a kilometre.
• Flowstone and columns - lit formations along the route.
• The dragon legend - the sixth-century hermit said to have driven it out.
• A steep approach - the climb from the road past a waterfall.

When to go

April to October. Two hours including the climb.

Honest expectations

Closed through winter. The cave is cool and damp and the floor is wet - proper shoes matter. The approach is a real climb, not a stroll. Photography inside is difficult without a tripod.

Nearby

Beatenberg and the Niederhorn are above; Interlaken is along the shore.