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Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh. The population of the Lauterbrunnen village is less than that of Wengen, but greater than that of the others.
Lauterbrunnen is a small unspoilt village in Switzerland nestled between the towering walls of a sheer-sided valley that is famed for its waterfalls. According to locals, the name Lauterbrunnen is a combination of lauter meaning many, and brunnen meaning spring, fountain, or well.
However, there is considerable dispute about the meaning of ‘lauter’, with some translating it as louder and others as clear, bright, or clean.
Lauterbrunnen (796 m) the lively centre at the entrance to the valley, with its famous landmark, the sparkling Staubbach Waterfall. Lauterbrunnen – where amazing mountain railways begin their climb through some of Europe’s most stunning scenery.
Unforgettable excursions are the spectacular Trümmelbach glacier waterfalls inside the mountain (from April to November), the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe (highest train station of Europe) or the Schilthorn/Piz Gloria (360° panorama with revolving restaurant).
In summertime, there are many possiblities for hiking and biking, leading to the “most beautiful spots on earth” – Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are always visible, of course! Skiing, sledding, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoehiking, … are the powerful activities in Winter in the Jungfrau Top Ski Region. Lauterbrunnen has 930 inhabitants, with 1030 beds in 9 hotels, 53 holiday apartments, 5 hostels for group accommodation and 2 camping sites.
The river Weisse Lütschine flows through Lauterbrunnen and overflows its banks about once a year. The source of the river comes from melting snow high in the mountains, thus making it a very pure and clean source of water. It is common practice in the camp sites to chill drinks in the water.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (literal translation: Song of the Spirits above the Waters) was written while he stayed at the parish house near the Staubbach Falls waterfall in Lauterbrunnen. The Lauterbrunnen valley also provided the pictorial model for J. R. R. Tolkien’s sketches and watercolors of the fictitious valley of Rivendell, and possibly also the name of the Bruinen river (meaning ‘Loudwater’) which flowed through it.
Lauterbrunnen lies at the bottom of a hanging or U-shaped valley that extends south and then south-westwards from the village to meet the 8-kilometre-long Lauterbrunnen Wall. The shape of the valley is best viewed from above in Wengen or from the cable car gondola to Grütschalp.
By narrow-gauge train from Interlaken Ost station. Eurail and Inter-Rail pass holders should be aware that these passes are not valid for this journey. Holders of Swiss Pass travel free. The Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) train runs to Interlaken.
The Lauterbrunnen area is very famous for mountainbiking. Rent an Interlaken bike and ride to the end of the valley the place calls Stechelberg. take your bike in the gondula up to Mürren. From Mürren follow the red bike trail signs to Winteregg. Its a easy trail for everybody not much up hill!
From Winteregg enjoy a fast downhill to Isenfluh or back to Lauterbrunnen. This tour can also easy be started in Interlaken: it’s only 45 minutes more biking and the round trip from Interlaken needs 3-5 hours. Get your great quality bike maps and all information at rental places in Interlaken.
The Wengernalpbahn (WAB) train leads to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Grindelwald, The aerial tramway and connecting train, both operated by the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM), provide service to Mürren. An alternative route to Mürren is available using the bus via the Trummelbach Falls to Stechelberg and then the Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn (LSMS).
