: between lakes) is a Swiss town and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern.

The town is located on flat alluvial land called Bödeli between two lakes, Brienz to the east and Thun to the west, and alongside the river Aare, which flows between them.

Transport routes to the east and west alongside the lakes are complemented by a route southwards into the near mountain resorts and high mountains, e.g. the famous high Alpine peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, following upwards the Lütschine.

The castle and market town became the possessions of the monastery, but fell into disrepair in the Late Middle Ages.

[4] The Interlaken Monastery was first mentioned in 1133 when Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor took it under his protection.

During the 13th century the monastery's influence spread throughout the neighboring area and into the Aare and Gürbe valleys.

They eventually had authority over two dozen churches along with a number of villages and farms and became the largest religious landholder in the region.

However, in 1350 a period of crises and conflicts led to a decline in the number of monks and nuns and increasing debt.

Bern responded with a military expedition to the Bernese Oberland, which ended in defeat for Unterwalden and its allies.

[5] In 1445 the Evil League (Böser Bund [de]) rose up in the Oberland near Interlaken and fought against Bernese military service and taxes following the Old Zürich War.

In 1472 a violent dispute between the men and the women's convents resulted in two visitations by the Bishop of Lausanne who noted serious deficiencies.

Despite the reform measures the nun's convent was closed in 1484 and its property transferred to the newly founded monastery of St. Vincent in Bern.

The tenants of the monastery who had expected the abolition of allowed interest responded by rioting, which was suppressed by Bern.

[7] In the 16th century, the bäuert of Aarmühle and the surrounding bäuerten began quarreling over the use of common fields and woods.

However, the dispute continued between Aarmühle and Matten, and in 1761, the governor of the Interlaken district attempted, unsuccessfully, to mediate.

This meant that the population of Matten was closely tied to the land and remained farmers, while in Aarmühle they began to support the growing tourism trade.

The many hotels combined with good transportation links made it easy for these early tourists to visit.

Initially, this line was unconnected to the rest of the Swiss railway system and served as a link between the steamships on both lakes.

By 1916, the Brünig railway had reached Interlaken from Brienz, and, together with an earlier extension at its eastern end, provided a direct rail route to Lucerne.

In 1890, the Berner Oberland railway connected Interlaken to the tourist destinations of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.

[11] The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Semi Ibex rampant couped Sable langued Gules.

Any Swiss resident of Interlaken allowed to vote can be elected as a member of the Municipal Council.

[18] The last regular election of the Grand Municipal Council was held on 27 September 2020 for the mandate period (German: Legislatur) from 2021 to 2024.

In the tertiary sector; 1,145 or 27.6% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 276 or 6.6% were in the movement and storage of goods, 1,170 or 28.2% were in a hotel or restaurant, 57 or 1.4% were in the information industry, 168 or 4.0% were the insurance or financial industry, 308 or 7.4% were technical professionals or scientists, 119 or 2.9% were in education and 360 or 8.7% were in health care.

Interlaken has a large selection of hotels of various grades, many of which are located along the Höheweg, a street that links the town's two railway stations and offers views of the mountains.

It has numerous backpacker-friendly hotels and companies providing guided services in skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

In the more immediate area, two funicular railways, the Harderbahn and the Heimwehfluhbahn, provide service to nearby vantage points.

The entire urbanized village of Interlaken is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.