Witnesses and traces of the Middle Ages are rare here at Lake Thun too. The Strättliger Chronicles by Reverend Elogius Kiburger give us some information. He looked back to the Middle Ages from the 15th century: his sources were legends which had been passed down through the generations.
Without his chronicles we would know very little about the Lords of Strättligen and their Golden Estate at Spiez, nor the founding of the church at Einigen or the foundation of Queen Bertha and King Rudolf 11 of Burgundy for the 12 thousand year old churches around Lake Thun. The 12 churches symbolised the 12 gates to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Kirche Einigen
Medieval Churches
Church at Einigen from the 10th century.
Special features; beautifully located on the lakeside.
www.kulturbeo.ch/Kirchen/kirchenzusatz/einigen.htm
Scherzligen (Thun) from the 8th century.
Special features; gothic murals, late gothic frescoes www.kirchgemeindestraettligen.ch
Kirche Scherzligen
Castle Church at Spiez from the 10th century.
Special features; one of the most beautiful early Romantic churches in Switzerland. www.schloss-spiez.ch
Schlosskirche Spiez
Church at Amsoldingen from the 15th century
Special features; pillared basilica with three apses, elevated presbytery and hall crypt. www.amsoldingen.ch
Kirche Amsoldingen
Petri-Church at Aeschi from the 14th century.
Special features; four seater shaped and carved choir stall from the year 1513 www.be.ref.ch
Church at Wimmis from the 10th century.
Special features: three apse church with apse fragment www.kirchgemeinde-wimmis.ch
Church at Erlenbach in the Simme Valley from the 11th/12th century
In the painted body of the church the warm colours of the unique and well preserved Gothic murals are fascinating. www.kirchgemeindeerlenbach.ch