St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee

What St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee does

St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee operates as Beatushöhlen-Genossenschaft, a Swiss cooperative headquartered in Sundlauenen on the north shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland between Thun and Interlaken. The company runs a year-round tourist attraction built around one of Switzerland's largest stalactite cave systems, with 14 km of explored cave and 1 km secured and accessible to visitors at a constant 8-10°C. The core product is cave admission (CHF 20 adult, CHF 12 child, CHF 52 family pass), bundled with an on-site speleology museum, and supplemented by a portfolio of supplementary offerings: Restaurant Stein & Sein (75 indoor + 75 terrace seats serving regional cuisine, Sunday brunch, cave raclette, fondue on the rock), themed event dinners, murder mystery dinners co-developed with Escape Quest (CHF 159/person), wedding venues, corporate event packages, seminars, and a Beatus-Shop & Museum retail outlet.

The business operates an event-driven go-to-market motion across five revenue streams: cave admission fees, gastronomy, event hosting (weddings, corporate parties, seminars), retail and souvenirs, and online vouchers/gift cards sold via the e-guma platform. Distribution runs through a multi-language (German/English/French) website, e-guma online ticketing, Gastronovi restaurant reservations, dedicated iOS/Android mobile apps with offline cave guide functionality, on-site box office, and direct sales for corporate and event bookings. Marketing is conducted via SEO, Google Ads, Meta/Facebook/Instagram, LinkedIn (for corporate events), and quarterly email newsletters, with cross-promotion partnerships spanning BLS Navigation (boat transport), RailAway (public transport), four regional mountain destinations (Niederhorn, Niesen, Stockhorn, Schilthorn), Meiringen-Hasliberg mountain railways, and tour operators across the Bernese Oberland. Customer segments are horizontally diversified across individual tourists/families, corporate clients, weddings/private celebrations, schools/educational groups, and tour operators. The organization is member-owned with no parent company, no institutional investors, and annual reports published continuously from 2019 through 2024.

Name

St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee

Legal name

Beatushöhlen-Genossenschaft

Website

https://beatushoehlen.swiss

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee is a Swiss cooperative operating one of Switzerland's largest stalactite caves on Lake Thun, offering year-round guided cave tours alongside a restaurant, museum, event venue, and experiential programming for families, corporates, and tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourist Cave Attractions and Hospitality

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Cave, Geology & Volcanic Experiences (THAJAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Caving & Speleology Tour Operators (THAAADAH), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Museum & Landmark Guided Tours (Skip-the-line/Docent-led) (THAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Stalactite cave tours
• Tourism attractions
• Event venue rental
• Regional cuisine restaurant
• Nature park experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Sundlauenen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cave Admission Fees: Ticket sales for cave tours including museum access. Adults pay CHF 20, children (6-16) pay CHF 12, family passes available for CHF 52. Dogs admitted for CHF 10.
2. Gastronomy Services: Restaurant Stein & Sein operates on-site, offering Sunday brunch (CHF 49-54 adults), cave raclette, fondue on the rock, event dinners, and murder mystery dinners (CHF 159 per person).
3. Event Hosting: Private event services including weddings, company parties, seminars, and celebrations. Venue rental with full catering options. Restaurant offers 75 indoor seats plus 75 outdoor terrace seats.
4. Retail & Souvenirs: Beatus-Shop & Museum offering souvenirs, educational materials, and themed products. Museum admission is included with cave tickets.
5. Vouchers & Gift Cards: Online voucher sales through e-guma platform for cave admission, restaurant services, and special event experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

St. Beatus-Höhlen operates a year-round stalactite cave tourist attraction on Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, offering 1 km of accessible cave pathways within a 14 km explored system. The venue bundles cave admissions with an on-site speleology museum, Restaurant Stein & Sein (Sunday brunch, cave raclette, fondue), themed tours, the Flimboweg children's trail, and event hosting for weddings, corporate functions, and murder mystery dinners developed with Escape Quest.

Product overview

St. Beatus-Höhlen is a year-round visitor attraction offering cave tours as its core product, supplemented by an integrated museum, restaurant, and diverse event venues. The experience portfolio includes themed cave tours, the Flimbo interactive trail, and the Beatus-Shop with online store. Gastronomic offerings center on Restaurant Stein & Sein with Sunday brunch, cave raclette by candlelight, fondue on the rock, and themed event dinners including the popular murder mystery 'Krimi am Fels' developed with Escape Quest. Event services extend to corporate team building packages, weddings, private celebrations, and seminars, utilizing the cave grotto, restaurant, terrace, and outdoor spaces. A companion mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restaurant Stein & Sein: On-site restaurant offering regional cuisine with views of Lake Thun, open for brunch, dinner, and events.
• Beatus-Shop & Museum

Products and services

• St. Beatus-Höhlen Cave Tours Guided and self-guided tours through one of Switzerland's largest stalactite caves, featuring grottoes, waterfalls, and millennia-old formations, with 1 km of accessible pathways open year-round at constant 8-10°C. Targeted at tourists, families, and groups visiting the Bernese Oberland.
• Cave Museum Speleology museum included with cave admission, showcasing geological and historical exhibits about the cave system. Targeted at visitors interested in geology and natural history.
• Restaurant Stein & Sein On-site restaurant offering regional cuisine with panoramic views of Lake Thun, serving brunch, fondue, raclette, and event dinners. Capacity of 75 indoor seats plus 75 outdoor terrace seats. Open to walk-in visitors and reservation holders.
• Crime Dinner (Krimi am Fels) Murder mystery dinner experience developed with Escape Quest (Swiss escape room market leader), featuring a 3-course menu with regional ingredients, welcome drink, and complete mystery game in the cave grotto. CHF 159 per person. Targeted at adult visitors seeking unique themed experiences.
• Cave Raclette Raclette dining experience served by candlelight inside the cave grotto, a signature culinary event unique to the location. Targeted at visitors seeking distinctive dining experiences.
• Sunday Brunch (Brunch am Fels) Weekly Sunday brunch buffet featuring regional products, fresh baked goods, and lake views. Available with or without cave admission. Adults CHF 49-54, children CHF 29-34, families CHF 139-169. Targeted at families and leisure visitors.
• Themed Cave Tours Specialized guided cave tours including geological discovery journeys and legendary dragon hunt experiences for team building and special interest groups. Targeted at groups seeking customized cave experiences.
• Event Venue Rental Venue rental for corporate events, weddings, private parties, seminars, and banquets hosted in the cave grotto, restaurant, terrace, or outdoor areas with full catering capabilities. Targeted at corporate clients, wedding planners, and event organizers.
• Company Party Packages Team building and corporate event packages combining cave tours with aperitifs, dinners, and cave raclette experiences. Targeted at companies and organizations seeking distinctive corporate event venues.
• Wedding Services (Heiraten am Fels) Wedding ceremonies and receptions at locations including the historic church, outdoor Hartmannsplatz with lake views, or inside the cave grotto, with customizable banquet menus. Targeted at couples seeking unique wedding venues.
• Flimboweg Interactive Adventure Trail Interactive adventure trail for children featuring educational stations and playful exploration elements along the cave exterior and nature park. Targeted at families with children visiting the cave.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 km of explored cave system with 1 km accessible year-round
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NiederhornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNiederhorn is a mountain destination offering alpine hiking experiences through meadows, heathland, and pine forests. Partnership provides cross-promotion for visitors seeking combined Bernese Oberland excursions in the Lake Thun region.
• NiesenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Niesen is a slate mountain with geological history spanning 70 million years, offering panoramic views of Lake Thun. Partnership promotes combined nature tourism experiences in the Bernese Oberland.
• StockhornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStockhorn offers a panoramic viewing platform on its north face with 240-degree views of mountains and lakes. Partnership extends outdoor experience options for St. Beatus visitors.
• SchilthornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchilthorn at 2,970 meters offers 360-degree Alpine panorama including Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Partnership targets visitors seeking comprehensive Bernese Oberland experiences.
• BLS Navigation (BLS Schifffahrt)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBLS Navigation operates boat services on Lakes Thun and Brienz. Partnership enables combined lake-and-cave excursion packages, with boats providing scenic access to the St. Beatus-Höhlen area. Limited parking capacity at the site makes water access particularly relevant.
• Meiringen-Hasliberg Mountain RailwaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeiringen-Hasliberg operates mountain railways serving excursion and winter sports areas between 600-2,500 meters altitude. Partnership extends adventure tourism offerings with over 500,000 annual transported visitors.
• Idée CoopérativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdée Coopérative is the Swiss center of excellence for cooperatives, providing consulting, education, and networking support. As St. Beatus-Höhlen operates as a Genossenschaft (cooperative), this partnership provides ongoing governance and best-practice support for the cooperative business model.
• Escape QuestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEscape Quest is the Swiss market leader for escape rooms, collaborating with St. Beatus-Höhlen to develop and deliver the 'Krimi am Fels' (Murder Mystery on the Rock) crime dinner experience. Escape Quest develops sophisticated puzzles, plot twists, and game materials while St. Beatus-Höhlen provides the unique cave setting.
• RailAwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailAway is a Swiss public transport ticketing partner offering combined train and attraction packages. Given limited parking capacity at the site, RailAway provides a 'Monats-öV-Hit' (monthly public transport special) encouraging visitors to travel by train rather than car.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Wildkirchli (Höhlenhaus): Swiss Alpine cave hermitage and show cave site in the Appenzell region, combining cave tours with restaurant and historical site operations. Most direct Swiss regional comparability aside from Grotte de Vallorbe.
• Niederhorn: Swiss mountain destination on Lake Thun offering hiking, alpine experiences, and dining. Already a partner of St. Beatus for cross-promotion; comparable regional Bernese Oberland nature experience operator.
• BLS Schifffahrt: Swiss boat operator on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, providing scenic and sightseeing transportation with combined excursion packages. Strategic distribution partner for St. Beatus and comparable in monetizing the Bernese Oberland tourism economy.

Direct peers

• Eisriesenwelt: Austrian show cave operating as the world's largest ice cave, offering guided tours and visitor services in a natural monument setting. Comparable asset-driven visitor attraction model with seasonal tourism and traditional guided-tour revenue.
• Aven d'Orgnac: Major French show cave complex combining guided cave tours, museum, and visitor center. Highly comparable European stalactite cave model with public-private operation, education programming, and integrated visitor services.
• Postojnska jama (Postojna Cave): Slovenia's premier show cave and one of Europe's largest cave tourist attractions, offering guided tours, on-site dining, event hosting, and a cave railway. Highly comparable business model combining cave access, retail, events, and F&B in a single natural asset.
• Grotte de Vallorbe: Swiss show cave attraction in the canton of Vaud, offering guided tours of stalactite caves plus a museum and dinosaur park. Operates a similar visitor model combining cave admission, F&B, and educational/family experiences in the Swiss market.

Broad incumbents

• Verkehrshaus Luzern: Swiss Museum of Transport and Tourism — a major Swiss attraction combining museum, exhibits, F&B, and event spaces. Comparable in operating a multi-vertical visitor experience business with strong ticket, F&B, and event revenue mix.
• Schilthorn: Swiss 2,970m Alpine destination with panoramic observation decks, restaurants, and event venues. Already a partner of St. Beatus for cross-promotion; comparable as a Bernese Oberland experience attraction with F&B and event monetization.
• Jungfrau Railways: Major Swiss mountain railway and tourism operator in the Bernese Oberland, with strong brand, retail, F&B, and rail-attraction packaging. Comparable in capturing premium Swiss tourism spend and partnering with regional attractions like St. Beatus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StBeatushoehlen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Beatus-Höhlen Thunersee