The Ring-way

This theme-park about the Rappard Family is a community project of Matten, the «Clara von Rappard» Society and the Art-Society of Interlaken. There are eight signposts with information about the life and activity of the Rappard Family and about Clara von Rappards art. Walking this ring-way, you will learn about one of the most interesting chapters of the history of the Bernese Oberland.

In 1858 Conrad von Rappard converted Kleiner Rugen into a scenic park, assisted by head forester von Greyerz. The ring-walk and the Pump room were constructed at this time. In 1861 he had the Rugenvilla built. In 1863 the «Kurhaus Jungfrau AG» bought the hotel «Jungfraublick», situated to the North, today’s «Regina». The «Kurhaus Jungfrau AG» had been founded by Conrad von Rappard, von Greyerz, his brother-in-law Löwe-Kalbe and the Architects Studer and Davinet.

Welcome to the von Rappard Family!

Welcome on the cultural path of the Rappard Family. This is Point Nr. 1 and you can set out on your cultural walk. There are eight double plates about Clara von Rappard and her environment. We wish you a pleasant walk and – as we hope – a lot of interesting information.

Conrad von Rappard
Conrad von Rappard (1805-1881) was a German lawyer and entrepreneur, who emigrated in 1849 to Switzerland and finally settled down on Kleiner Rugen. He was a convinced democrat and was active in the promotion of tourism and culture in the Bernese Oberland.

Albertine von Rappard
Albertine von Rappard (1833-1922) originated at the Mecklenburg estate of the Engell family, very active socially for the poor and the ill.

Clara von Rappard
Into this stimulating social environment the daughter Clara was born in 1857. This lady’s developement, dedicated with body and soul to painting, is unique in the just beginning history of modern Swiss art. Clara von Rappard belongs to the most important protagonists of modern Swiss art. Her open-air painting, her portraits and pictures, illustrations, scetches and symbolic work witness a successful analysis of Realism, Naturalism and Impressionism. At the same time they possess their own unmistakable character and style.