Lauterbrunnen in the Lauterbrunnen Valley is located in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland and is embedded between steep rock faces on both sides. This geographical feature attracts base jumpers from all over the world, who plunge into the depths from the surrounding rocky outcrops. From the neighbouring village, a cable car leads to the famous Schilthorn, from where you can enjoy a magnificent and breathtaking view over the mountains and the landscape in the region.
The panoramic revolving restaurant Piz Gloria should be familiar to James Bond fans by sight, as it was the setting for a few scenes from a James Bond film at the end of the sixties. The name of the mountain that gave the restaurant its name is fictitious. The “Piz” refers to the film setting, which was located in Graubünden and is of Rhaeto-Romanic origin, the language of Graubünden. Piz stands for mountain.
The world-famous waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen
There are a total of 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The most famous are the Staubbach Falls and the Trümmelbach Falls. The Staubbach Falls are almost 300 meters high and shoot from there into the depths. The waterfall can already be seen from the village of Lauterbrunen. This waterfall is particularly dusty, which is due to the thermals in the area. This is where its name comes from. The Trümmelbach Falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the water comes from the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.
Over the millennia, a very narrow chasm was washed into the rock face, which is still very narrow today and fascinates and impresses visitors again and again. In it, the stream plunges into the depths in over ten waterfalls. At the top, the waterfalls are so deep in the crevice between the rocks that no daylight reaches them anymore and they are therefore particularly impressive to observe. Since the beginning of the last century, the area around the Trümmerbruchfälle has been made accessible with stairs and paths, and it is now one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Bernese Oberland.
The hiking paradise in the Bernese Oberland
The Jungfrau region with its majestic mountain peaks invites you to go on long hikes. The region is known for its numerous hiking trails of all levels of difficulty. A hike through the Lauterbrunnen Valley is highly recommended. Especially in spring, when the snow melts, the streams and waterfalls carry a lot of meltwater and make an impressive picture when the masses of water shoot into the depths.
For climbing enthusiasts, the 900-metre-high Schwarzhorn via ferrata is recommended. The 3000 m high destination can be reached via various ladders and climbing passages. The climbing wall itself can be reached via a one-hour walk from the mountain station. Once at the top, you can enjoy a wonderful view over the entire mountain world of the region.
Excursion to the heights without strenuous hiking up
If you don’t like to walk uphill, the Eiger Trail is just the thing for you. The height can be reached with the Wengernalp cable car and then walk back into the valley. For about two hours, the path leads along the Eiger north face and there is a magnificent view of the valley to enjoy.
Another wonderful excursion is the one to the Schynige Platte. A cogwheel railway travels over seven kilometres in altitude and overcomes almost 1,500 metres in altitude. The nature that has happened is breathtakingly beautiful. Forests, lush flower meadows and summer alpine cattle make for an idyllic picture. Once at the top, the whole thing is topped off with an impressive view of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. The view of the partly snow-covered Alps make the excursion perfect.
Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
A trip to the Jungfraujoch is not to be missed. With an altitude of almost 3,500 metres, a certain altitude tolerance is a prerequisite for enjoying the excursion carefree. The Jungfraujoch is one of the most popular travel destinations in Switzerland. This is also because you can take a cable car to the top and there is no need for tedious mountaineering. The station is the highest railway station in Europe. The view of the Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding mountains is fantastic. If the visibility is good, you can see several kilometers away. A special highlight at the summit is a visit to the Ice Palace, where artists have created wonderful sculptures out of ice.
Other ways to explore the area
Those who need a little more adventure spend a day on the bike track. The Grütsch Trail is known for this. Thanks to a mountain railway, there is no need to pedal up and you can concentrate fully on the descent. The route has it all. Steep sections and narrow passages require a lot of skill. The trail is about three kilometers long and covers a distance of 600 meters in altitude. The finish of the route is directly at the valley station. So those who haven’t had enough can go up again and enjoy the descent again.
If you would like to learn something about the history of Switzerland, the Ballenberg open-air museum near Brienz is recommended. Old houses have been transported here from all over Switzerland and can be visited. The site is divided into the individual cantons of Switzerland and many of the buildings can even be visited from the inside.
