Bernese Oberland, Switzerland Travel Poster: Niesen. Bahn 2367m

Niesen. Bahn 2367m is a striking antique travel poster by an anonymous Swiss graphic artist, created to promote the Niesenbahn funicular in the Bernese Oberland. The design distills the “Swiss Pyramid” into a bold triangular silhouette rising above Lake Thun, an icon of early 20th-century alpine tourism. With its clean geometry and drama-filled sky, the poster captures the moment when modern transport opened the high Alps to leisure travelers, hikers, and panorama-seekers.

Available exclusively from The Unique Maps Co., this artwork is offered as a museum-quality fine art print on acid-free archival paper or on artist’s cotton canvas. Choose from a range of sizes, from intimate to statement-making, with optional professional framing. Personalization and customization are available—add a caption, commemorate a date, or match a particular interior palette—so your print arrives ready to hang and enjoy.

Although the artist’s name has been lost to history, the hand behind this poster reflects the professional poster ateliers that flourished in Switzerland during the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco. These studios worked closely with railways and regional tourism boards, crafting distilled, modern images that could be read instantly from a station platform or lakeside promenade. The result here is expert minimalism—few elements, maximum impact—typical of Swiss travel advertising of the era.

The subject is the Niesen, the unmistakable pyramid-shaped peak that rises above the northern shore of Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland. The “Bahn 2367m” inscription points to the Niesenbahn, the two-section funicular that carried visitors from the valley floor to spectacular viewpoints along the ridge. As Europe’s rail networks expanded in the early 1900s, posters like this enticed travelers to pair scenic lake steamers and mountain railways with fresh-air excursions and grand-hotel stays, turning the Swiss Alps into a must-see destination.

A rich palette of radiant yellows, deep reds, and velvety purples elevates this composition beyond simple advertising into graphic art. Smooth gradient skies evoke a sunlit or twilight atmosphere, while the mountain’s sharply angular form and inky shadow create a commanding, almost sculptural presence. The simplified contours, flat color fields, and assertive contrasts are pure Art Deco in spirit—timeless, elegant, and tailored to contemporary interiors. Whether you love alpine landscapes or refined graphic design, this piece is a conversation-starting homage to the golden age of travel.

This fine art print makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who has visited Switzerland—especially the Bernese Oberland—or who dreams of it: ideal for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, a housewarming, or to celebrate a recent trip to Lake Thun, Spiez, Interlaken, or a ride on the Niesenbahn.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.