Discover Saanen: Village, Saane River and Mountain Scenery

Saanen is a municipality in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, and the main town of the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district. The area offers three distinct starting points for choosing where to stay: the historic village centre, the Museum of the Saanen Region and the landscape along the Saane riverside walk. You can plan your stay according to whether you are more interested in architecture, regional traditions or a riverside route. In addition to the village of Saanen, the municipality includes Gstaad, Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Kalberhöni, Saanenmöser, Schönried and Turbach. The name Saanen therefore refers both to a village and to the municipality.

Saane Riverside Walk and Mountain Landscape

The Saane riverside walk is an official, barrier-free SwitzerlandMobility route between Gstaad and Saanen. Along the route, the Saane is a white-water river, flanked by lush vegetation, green fields and meadows, with mountain scenery in the background. There are bus stops for the return journey by PostBus. If you plan to follow the route, check the latest route details and PostBus timetable in advance, as route details may change. This lets you plan the walk and return journey together as part of your day.

The elevation figures also show the range of the municipality: the area extends from 985 metres at the Saane by the Rüttischlucht gorge to the Giferspitz at 2,542 metres. The river section and the summit mark different points within the municipality; these figures do not refer solely to the village centre.

Village History and Architecture

The village centre is home to chalets dating from the 15th to the 18th century. The village of Saanen is listed in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. A first church was built in the 10th or 11th century and was first mentioned in written records in 1228. Saanen was also involved in medieval political alliances and treaties, including agreements with the Simmental in 1340, Valais in 1393 and Bern in 1403.

Museum of the Saanen Region

The museum features a permanent exhibition on Saanen customs, as well as regularly changing special exhibitions. It is housed in a late-medieval building that was badly damaged in a devastating village fire in 1575. The museum therefore brings together themes of local customs and the history of the building. You can find it at Dorfstrasse 62, 3792 Saanen; check the details before travelling.

Music and Other Activities

The Saanen Audio Guide (T12) takes you through the village and its history and architecture. Saani’s Sound Experience offers a different theme: it can be started in Saanen and includes 18 interactive stations. There, children of all ages can enjoy traditional folk music and classical music through play, together with their parents. Check the latest route details before planning your visit.

Saanen le Bijou outdoor swimming pool has a 65-metre-long water slide, a separate children’s pool and a diving platform. These specific leisure activities complement the themes of village history, architecture and riverside scenery, so you don’t have to limit your plans to just one focus.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Schönried, Gsteig Bei Gstaad, Lauenen, Saanen, Gstaad.

Back to the main travel overview: Saanen.