Lauterbrunnen - valley of waterfalls and cliffs in Switzerland

Lauterbrunnen (Switzerland) is one of those places that are often depicted on tourist postcards and magnets. This is a fabulously beautiful valley located in the famous Swiss Alps.

General information

Swiss Lauterbrunnen is a small village surrounded by high cliffs, mountain lakes and picturesque meadows. It is located near Interlaken - the tourist capital of the Bernese Highlands region. Of course, the main attraction of the Lauterbrunnen Valley is not at all architectural structures or museums - it is worth going here to enjoy the beauty of Swiss nature.

A little more than 3,000 people live in Lauterbrunnen - by our standards this is a village. Most houses are in the valley, but you can meet mountain residents. Due to the fact that there is one of the highest waterfalls in Switzerland (Staubbach) near the village, there are always many tourists here, and the whole world knows the photo of the Swiss Lauterbrunnen.

Staubbach Waterfall

Staubbach is the hallmark of the Swiss Lauterbrunnen Valley. Its height is 300 meters, and until 2006 it was considered the highest waterfall in Switzerland. However, after repeated measurements, it turned out that the Zirenbach waterfall is slightly higher, and now Staubbach takes an honorable second place.

An interesting fact is that the waterfall became famous thanks to the legendary German writer Goethe - in 1779 he visited this place, and, inspired by the beauty of Switzerland, wrote the poems “Song of Spirits over the Waters”. After 40 years, another famous English poet Byron wrote about the waterfall, calling it the tail of a huge water horse.

Today, Staubbach is the most popular tourist attraction in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This place is especially beautiful in the rain - powerful streams of water hit the ground, which enthralls Swiss guests. Also, an observation deck was built specifically for tourists - a special tunnel was made in the rock, from which a view of the village and the whole valley opens.

Trummelbach Waterfall

Trummelbach waterfall (or, as it is often called, “rattling drums”) is located 6 km from Staubah. This place, like many others in Switzerland, is famous for its beauty: not all the waterfall can be seen walking along the valley, because several cascades are hidden in the Black Monk Cave. Any tourist can get here. During the tour, guests will be guided through a long tunnel, and will also show different parts of the waterfall nearby. Rumble and a lot of spray - this is what awaits tourists in the cave. Paid entrance.

An interesting fact is that the amount of Trummelbach water varies greatly depending on the season: from December to March it is, in fact, only a small brook in the mountains. But from July to September, the waterfall can be seen in all its glory.

Trumemelbach is similar in color, oddly enough, to milk: this is due to the fact that water erodes a large number of stones and sand.

How to get there: you need to go from the village of Lauterbrunnen to a small ascent, in which the tunnel begins. This is followed by a checkpoint, followed by a cave.

• Cost of visit: 11 francs - adults, 4 francs - children.
• Visit time: July and August - from 8.30 to 18.00, all other months - from 9.00 to 17.00

What to do in winter

Near the Lauterbrunnen Valley there are many well-known Swiss resorts, which are definitely worth a visit.

The most famous is the resort of Murren-Schilthorn, which lies at an altitude of 1650 meters above sea level. The basis of the resort is the village of Murren, which is located in the valley. It offers stunning views of the three mountain peaks: Eiger, Monk and Jungfrau. Only 450 people live in this place, but tourists come here several times more. The total length of the resort's tracks is 50 km.

Another interesting place in Switzerland is the village of Wengen in the Bernese Alps, located northeast of the Lauterbrunnen valley. This is a classic alpine village with wooden chalets and scattered arbors scattered across the slope. It’s worth coming here just to enjoy the view from the surrounding mountains. And extreme sports lovers should visit the resort in January - this month the annual Lauberhorn races are held, consisting of men's downhill and slalom.

What to do in summer

In the summer, tourists should also go to Swiss Wengen - in August, the annual Mendelssohn Music Festival opens here. And in September, the Jungfrau mountain marathon takes place here, which annually attracts thousands of spectators and more than 3,500 participants. We can say that Wengen is the most famous and active city in the commune of Lauterbrunnen.

Another pride of Lauterbrunnen is Jungfrauban - a railway that runs through a mountain tunnel. Of course, the stop is “The Top of Europe” (3000 meters above sea level). This station is the highest station not only in Switzerland but also in Europe. From here it is worth going to the observation deck to take a look at Aletsch - an alpine glacier.

How to get to Lauterbrunnen

The Lauterbrunnen Valley is located among the mountains, so to get to this place without transfers, alas, will not work:

You can get to the Lauterbrunnen Valley by train (Switzerland has well-developed railway transport) or by car.

Train: you must take the train on line No. 61 (run 3 hours) at the Bern station and get to the Interlaken stop. Then transfer to the 145-Y train and get off at Lauterbrunnen station.

Travel time - 1 hour 40 minutes. Ticket price - 34-44 francs, depending on the class.

You can also get to Lauterbrunnen by car: the distance between cities is 70 km.

By train: at Geneva station, you need to catch a train on line number 1 (run every 2 hours) and get to Bern station. Then catch the train on line number 61 and get to the Interlaken stop. Then transfer to the 145-Y train and get off at Lauterbrunnen station.

Travel time - 3 hours 50 minutes. Estimated cost (may vary depending on class) - 64-124 francs.
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Parking in Lauterbrunnen

Parking near the Lauterbrunnen station is the largest. Here you can leave your car and go on a trip through the mountains.

• Rent price: 17 francs (in one day), 270 francs (in 30 days).
• Parking Hours: round the clock

Box office hours:

• April-June - 8.00 - 17.00
• July-September - 8.00 - 19.00
• October-March - 8.00 - 19.00

Reservation: You can reserve parking in Switzerland online (www.jungfrau.ch) only for a period of 5 days in winter and 3 days in summer.

The only possible way to not pay is to book a room in one of the hotels with its own parking. Some of them:

• Valley Hostel
• Hotel "Staubbach"
• Guest house "Camping Jungfrau - Holiday Park"
• Hotel Silberhorn

Unfortunately, in the valley there is no place where you could park your car for free. Despite this, a settlement in the Lauterbrunnen Valley (Switzerland) is popular with tourists, and more than 6,000 people come here every year.

See also: Engelberg - the world famous winter resort in Switzerland with skating rinks and jumps.Find out RATES or book any accommodation using this form

An inspirational video from Switzerland, the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the surrounding area is worth a look.

Watch the video: Trummelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland (December 2024).