© A. Wittwer Photography

«Nah, wild, wärtvoll»

Facts & Figures about the Diemtigtal Nature Park

Unique Diemtigtal

Discover the uniqueness of the Diemtigtal (Diemtig valley)

What you see in the Diemtigtal Nature Park, you will usually find only much further away. In our valley, nature is sometimes wild, and you’ll find rugged, but scenic places. Precious stands for all intangible values that are associated with the Diemtigtal Nature Park.

© Martin Wymann

What makes the
Diemtigtal Nature Park unique?

  • Valuable landscapes, with their precious flora and fauna, must be nurtured and protected

  • Alpine farming is very important to the Diemtigtal Nature Park’s economy and culture

  • Traditions in the Diemtigtal are actively lived and kept alive

  • The Nature Park offers high-quality environmental education

Unique and precious landscapes and cultural landscapes

In the Diemtigtal (Diemtig valley), alpine farming is hugely important for preserving authentic cultural traditions and the local economy. Thanks to sustainable agricultural methods broad biodiversity and an expansive cultural landscape have been maintained. Valuable landscapes, such as the largest forest reserve in the canton of Bern, are vital for the preservation of fauna and flora. They and their important biodiversity must be nurtured and protected. The cultural landscapes and forests of the Diemtigtal are precious areas for hiking and recreation.

© Martin Wymann

Experience the magic of the nature park

Tradition and living culture

With its traditional scattered settlement, the Diemtigtal has a wealth of well-maintained, living architecture. This was honoured in 1986, when the Swiss Heritage Society awarded the municipality of Diemtigen with the Wakker Prize. This prize is given each year to a Swiss municipality that preserves and develops its architectural heritage. Traditions are still actively lived and kept alive.

A visit to the Diemtigtal is educational

Our environmental education activities for schools and individuals visiting the Diemtigtal Nature Park are becoming increasingly popular and are often fully booked. As a result, several school classes have become repeat visitors. This is a huge compliment confirming the quality of our work for the Diemtigtal Nature Park. Moreover, we have created several theme trails where visitors can enjoy learning more about our valley.

Important to know: the activities take place in German.

The Diemtigtal Nature Park – location and perimeter

The Diemtigtal Nature Park lies between the two mountain chains Niesen and Turnen. The southern end of the valley is formed by the peaks Seehorn, Spillgerte, Rauflihorn and Männlifluh. Männifluh is the highest peak of the valley at 2,652 m a.s.l., whereas Burgholz, characterised by its two mill towers, is the lowest point with 640 m a.s.l.
The Diemtigtal fits exactly the definition of a nature park, thanks to its location surrounded by mountains and forming a natural gate into the valley.

Moreover, the 19 km long Diemtigtal is the largest side valley of the Simmental (Simmen valley). The Nature Park covers the whole of the Diemtigtal (Diemtig valley) and includes the municipalities of Diemtigen and partially Zweisimmen. More precisely, it includes the whole municipality of Diemtigen and, due to landscape reasons, also a part of the municipality of Zweisimmen. This is how the regional Nature Park reaches its size of 135.4 km2.

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Exciting to know

135,4  km2

is the size of the Diemtigtal Nature Park

59,66  km

is the circumference of the nature park’s perimeter. You would need around 27 hours and 12 minutes to walk and climb it, provided that you keep your speed and are fit as a fiddle

2652  m a.s.l.

is the height of the Männfluh peak, the highest point in the Diemtigtal Nature Park

2279  inhabitants

lived in the municipality of Diemtigen in December 2021