Niesen - the swiss pyramid (2362 m)

The original name was Berg Yesen. «An Yesen» was eventually shortened to Niesen. Yesen is nothing other than the yellow gentian, which flowers to this day on the Niesen. The roots of this plant were dug up and used as remedies, especially in the olden days. This remedy tastes bitter but is supposed to improve appetite, strengthen the stomach, lower temperature, improve libido and the quality of the blood.


The first guesthouse was built on the Niesen Kulm in 1856, 50 years before the funicular. All food and beverage had to be carried up the mountain. The ordinary guest climbed the Niesen on foot, but the well-to-do hired horses or mules or were taken up in sedan chairs carried by four men. In 1859 such a carrier earned 8 swiss francs a day to climb the 1'700 meters from Wimmis to the top of the Niesen and a hired horse cost 15-20 swiss francs. Quite a sum in those days.  

The composer Johannes Brahms climbed the Niesen in 1886. He was not very enthusiastic about the hard and long climb but he found the view at the top was worth it all. 

It was only in the 19th century that mountain climbing became popular. Before that the belief was that mountains were the place where demons and dragons lived (Drunengalm is another mountain in the Niesen chain and «Drunen» means dragon).

In 1990 the competition for the fastest runner to climb the Niesen by the stairway, which runs parallel to the funicular, was carried out. The orientation runner Aebersold was the winner; he took 52.26.33 minutes. In comparison the train takes 28 minutes ant the average walker starting at the valley station Mülenen takes a good 5 hours to reach the peak.

World record – the longest stairway in the world
The stairway alongside to the Niesen funicular has 11'674 steps. According to the Guinness Book of Records this is the longest stairway in the world. Unfortunately we have to strictly forbid you from climbing up this way - unless you belong to our maintenance team.