At the southern tip of the town, where the Aare flows out of Lake Thun, stands Schadau Castle — a mid-19th-century neo-Gothic pile in a park that runs along the lakeshore. The castle now houses a restaurant; the real draw is the park, which stretches between the Aare and the lake and is freely accessible throughout the year.
The gardens are beautifully maintained, with old trees including giant sequoias planted in the 1860s, rhododendrons and azaleas in flower from April to June, and direct access to the water. The views from the lakeside — across Lake Thun to the Bernese Alps, with the Niesen pyramid particularly prominent — are among the best around the town. The Panorama footbridge near the castle entrance gives a good vantage point over the river confluence. The park is a ten-minute walk from the old town along the Aare.