Outdoor Pools around Bern

It’s so hot, I’m dripping with sweat. Our ancestors probably thought so too. After all, the historic outdoor pool Ursenbach has been around since 1885, making it the first publicly operated swimming pool in the canton of Bern (outside of larger cities such as Bern and Thun). According to old documents, that was the year a bathing pond was constructed. After the Second World war, the pond was replaced with a contemporary facility. In addition to a large swimming pool, today’s modern facilities include a kiosk, a beach volleyball court and a slide. This gem is a pioneer because of its unique origin story, and it offers refreshing and cheerful leisure activities up until today.

There’s no room for the “Röstigraben” (division between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland) here. The outdoor pool in Laupen is special because it is run jointly by twelve municipalities and functions across cantonal boundaries. Other public institutions that still hold on to their “Kantönligeist” (“cantonal spirit” - colloquialism for a lack of cooperation between the cantons) might want to take note. The spacious outdoor pool boasts various swimming lanes, a kids’ playground, table tennis tables, a bistro and much more. The facility is located right in the picturesque countryside on the River Saane and offers superior recreational fun. You can also enjoy Punch & Judy shows, trampoline afternoons or concerts at this venue. So even guests who get bored with lying around on a towel or swimming laps are in for a treat.

The well-maintained pool in the heart of the Gantrisch Nature Park might be small, but oh so beautiful. It sits in an idyllic location at 1,050 metres above sea level, surrounded by green trees that provide soothing shade. The cool mountain breeze makes it even more enjoyable to splash around on a hot summer day. The water temperature is another story: it is always at a warm 25 to 29 degrees because the pools are heated with energy from solar panels. The 25-metre pool is filled with spring water from the Gantrisch region, and the kids’ pool next to it thrills with a slide. However, if you’d rather stay out of the water, you can let off some steam on the playground, practise your serve on the beach volleyball court, treat yourself to a snack in the restaurant, or enjoy the peace and quiet in the herbal sauna.

When it’s this hot, we might sometimes yearn for the ice bucket challenge, but we are actually pretty happy that the water isn’t quite so cold. You might choose a stylish crawl, a somersault from the diving platform or splashing around in the kids’ pool - just make sure to let off some steam. The outdoor pool in Langnau provides the infrastructure you need for that. A pool lift helps people with limited mobility to cool off as well. If you’re more on the water-shy side, you can enjoy the mini golf course, the beach volleyball court or the boules court (pétanque). Or you might prefer to lie down in the shade underneath the trees and relax with a book. There’s also the restaurant with a spacious sun terrace and more than enough delicious ice cream for everybody.