Interlaken , town and summer resort in central Switzerland , in Bern Canton. It is situated on the Aare River between Brienz and Thun lakes, near the city of Bern , in the Bernese Oberland region in the Alps . Tourism is Interlaken 's main economic activity. Attractions include an 18th-century castle, used today to house government offices, and a spectacular view of the Jungfrau peak from the main street of the town. Printing and the manufacture of woolen textiles are other important industries. Interlaken was founded in the 12th century. Population (1996) 5,176. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west. The town takes its name from its geographical position between the lakes (in Latin inter lacus ), but the name was only coined in 1891, replacing the old name Aarmühle . Interlaken is located at 570 metres above sea level. The original importance of the town was as the site of a convent of the Augustinian Canons; the convent was built in 1130 and lasted until 1528. In the past textiles and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland , and it remains one of the most popular. Interlaken is frequently visited by adventure-seeking backpackers throughout the year. The town is home to numerous backpacker-friendly hostels and companies that provide guided services in Skydiving, Canyoning, Hanggliding, Paragliding, and Skiing, to name a few. The town offers tourists a peaceful base from which to explore the surrounding areas by train or bus. However, the main attraction is probably the magnificent Jungfrau mountain (4158m). Many hotels are located along the Höheweg avenue which offer good views of the mountains. Mystery Park , a paranormal-based theme park owned by Erich van Daninken, was closed in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties. Despite its small size (population 5,200), the town features two railway stations ("Interlaken Ost" and "Interlaken West") and two funicular railways, the Harderbahn and the Heimwehfluhbahn. Train connections in Interlaken serve the Jungfrau region via the Berner Oberland Bahn, with narrow-gauge lines also extending over the Brunig Pass to Luzern. The main line connects Interlaken with the cities of Spiez, Thun and Bern . There are also regular bus links to the neighbouring town of Thun .