The Top of Thun is a distinctive rectangular crown with a turret at each corner to act as a lookout to views of the lands to the north, south, east and west. This gateway to the Bernese Oberlands has now doubled up as a gateway to the past of settlements and human life in the Swiss Highlands. A steep flight of stairs leads up to the entrance of the castle, set apart from both the flow of foot traffic on the paths running alongside the River Aare and the marine traffic on its waters. At this point you might feel a slight pull in your muscles, a short huff at the height scaled. A second external flight across the side of the Schloss will leave you at the entrance of the Knights’ Hall. The echoing, empty space is a rare sight in medieval castles and had once been filled with aristocrats in their brocaded finery and knights whose armor remain standing as quiet sentinels in the shadowed recesses of the hall. Today, its walls reverberate with the sounds of Chopin and Mozart released into the air as lingering sweetness and exhilaration through classical quartets and string ensembles. Damp and chilly cellars once stacked with an endless array of wine kegs and liquor directly from the Swiss wine yards are now overflowing with ephemera and records tracking the growth of Thun as a prominent name on the shores of Lake Thun. The exhibits of the museum cover all the possible facets of the castle, beginning at the truss which holds up its roofs at present to the reign of the Bernese Royalty that contributed greatly to the heritage and architectural origins of the town. Winding up the castles stairways, you will invariably find yourself at a loss of breath either as a result of the climb or the sight of the town of Thun from your perch. Through the rough cut windows (a hole in the wall might be more accurate), the vague outline of the misty mountains and the fog curled over the waters of Lake Thun give the appearance of a giant’s lair beyond the silent streets of Thun. Regardless, these views have been hard earned, seeing as to how you had to scale great heights in order to enjoy them. So take your time to let the breeze caress your face and feel your breath falling into rhythm once more as you breath in the sights of Thun from your nest at the top of Schloss Thun Castle.