Top 8 Tourist Attractions in the Jungfrau
The Jungfrau massif, with its three famous peaks - the
Jungfrau at 4,158 meters, the Mönch at 4,099 meters, and the 3,970-meter Eiger
- has been the goal of climbers since the early 1800s and, more recently, of
skiers who head for its 206 kilometers of slopes and runs, all set against the
backdrop of the three peaks. The rack-railroad to the Jungfraujoch opened in
1912, and its upper station is the highest railroad station in Europe at 3,454 meters. Known for their long runs - some as long as 12
kilometers - and reliable deep snow, it's no wonder the three major ski areas
draw winter sports enthusiasts from around the world. Dozens of lifts and
cableways give skiers and sightseers access to the mountains. Beginners will
find the slopes near Wengen the best for learning to ski, while experts will
find Murren's slopes the most challenging in the Jungfrau region. The
postcard-pretty towns, scenic splendor, and natural attractions all add to the
Jungfrau's appeal to tourists in any season.
1. Jungfraujoch
The highest railroad station
in Europe at 3,454 meters, the Jungfraujoch is like a small village, with a
hotel, restaurants, research stations, and underground passages leading to an Ice
Palace carved from the
glacier and to sports venues for skiing and dogsledding. An elevator climbs
even higher to a viewing platform at the 3,573-meter summit of the Sphinx, not
far below the summit of the Mönch. To the south, you can see the Aletsch
glacier, 22 kilometers long, and to the north, the mountain world of the
Alps. On clear days, the view extends to the Vosges in France and
to Germany's Black Forest.The Jungfraubahn railway begins its climb at the Kleine
Scheidegg, which you can reach from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. The best
plan is to go one way and come back the other. The rail line from Grindelwald
to the Kleine Scheidegg runs below the treacherous north face of the Eiger, the
most dangerous rock wall in the Alps. The first stop on the Jungfraubahn is Eigergletscher
(Eiger Glacier), at 2,320 meters and surrounded by magnificent, wild
scenery. Further on is the Eismeer (Sea of Ice) at 3,160 meters on the south face of
the Eiger, with views over the much-crevassed surface of the glacier towards
the Wetterhorn, the Schreckhorn, the Fiescherhörner, and the great crevasse
under the Mönchsjoch. From here, it is a journey of 50 minutes along the
rack-railroad to the Jungfraujoch.
2. Lauterbrunnen
The Lauterbrunnen
valley extends from Zweilütschinen to the foot of the Breithorn in the Jungfrau
massif. The typical high alpine valley is enclosed between sheer rock walls
over which several magnificent waterfalls drop in frothing ribbons. Plunging
into the village itself are the Staubbach falls, which tumble from an overhanging crag in a sheer drop of
300 meters. The falls inspired Goethe to write Song of the Spirits over the
Water, later set to music by Schubert. Lauterbrunnen is a popular summer resort
and the starting-point of the funicular to the Jungfraujoch. The valley is a walkers' and skiers' paradise offering
beautiful climbs in all skill levels and ski-runs as long as 17.5 kilometers.
You can see a collection of agricultural tools in the museum.
3. Schilthorn and Piz Gloria
The Schilthornbahn, a 6,967-meter-long cableway,
ascends in 34 minutes via three intermediate stations to the Schilthorn, at an
elevation of 2,970 meters. The views are spectacular, and the ski trails from
here run all the way back to Lauterbrunnen, 12 kilometers below. But the reason
most people come to this peak is for its revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria, and
its associations with James Bond. In the late 1960s, when location scouts were
looking for a spot to film Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, they
found this revolving restaurant under construction. Its futuristic shape caught
their imaginations, and they saw it as the perfect setting for Piz Gloria, the
mountaintop hideout of the film's villain Blofeld. The producers helped finance
its completion, and it featured prominently in the film, afterwards taking the
name of the fictional hideout. Today, Piz Gloria makes the most of the Bond
experience with a special Bond Breakfast menu, interactive Bond exhibits,
memorabilia, and film clips. Apart from the James Bond connection, the magnificent
360-degree panorama from the summit rewards the trip, encompassing the trio of
the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and reaching to Mont Blanc and into Germany's
Black Forest.
4. Wengen
A car-free resort halfway up the Eiger and overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen can only be reached on foot or on the Wengernalpbahn, a rack railway from Lauterbrunnen that was built in 1893. The town is beautifully set at the foot of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and is an ideal base for walks and climbs in the mountains and alpine meadows of the Bernese Oberland. You can climb to the Wengernalp, either directly in less than two hours or by way of the Mettlealp, immediately opposite the Jungfrau, in three hours. You can also take the railway to the Wengernalp, where you'll find the Hotel Jungfrau and splendid views of the Trümleten valley and the Jungfrau. Each January, the Lauberhorn Downhill Ski Race, one of the most spectacular in the world cup circuit, is held in Wengen
5 Grindelwald
A village
of narrow streets and picturesque chalets set among alpine meadows, Grindelwald
lies at the foot of the dramatic ledges of the Eiger's sheer north face. To the
left of the Eiger is the 3,104-meter Mettenberg and the 3,701-meter Wetterhorn,
the most characteristic landmark of the Grindelwald valley. Between the three
mountains are the two Grindelwald glaciers. The Upper
Glacier, about a 1.5-hour walk from the village, has an
ice cave carved into its right-hand side. The Lower Glacier is reached through the impressive Lütschine
Gorge, where you can see glacial potholes carved into
the rock by meltwater. In the village of Grindelwald you can visit a small
museum to learn about alpine life, local cheese-making, and the history of
skiing and mountaineering in the valley. At the Bergsteigerzentrum (mountaineering center), you
can join tours and courses for both beginning and advanced climbers and hikers.
The best views in Grindelwald are from the Terrassenweg, a panoramic path
that branches off the road about 20 minutes' walk above the church and runs
along the mountainside above alpine meadows.
6. Mürren
At the
foot of the Schilthorn, a sunny terrace above the Lauterbrunnen valley, Mürren
maintains its 19th-century atmosphere by allowing no private vehicles on its
narrow streets. Access to this rustic chalet village is from Lauterbrunnen by
funicular to Grütschalp and from there by a 5.5-kilometer narrow-gauge railroad
or from Stechelberg by a cableway that goes past waterfalls and craggy rock
faces into the center of the village. Wengen, on the rocky plateau opposite, is
also accessible by cableway. Mürren developed during the 19th century into a
popular resort, particularly among the British, who founded theInferno Race. It is the biggest
amateur ski race in the world, and still takes place here annually on the
famous black-diamond Inferno run down the Schilthorn. From the town are
magnificent views of the Jungfrau, and a half-hour walk or a cable car ride takes
you toAllmendhubel, at 1,938 meters, with panoramic views.
7. Trümmelbach Falls
Almost
hidden inside the Schwarze Mönch, the Trümmelbach Falls plunge down in five
rushing cascades that swirl through a corkscrew-shaped vertical gorge carved
out by the meltwaters from the giant ice walls of the Eiger, Mönch, and
Jungfrau. Elevators take you inside the mountain and to a series of walkways to
view the individual waterfalls. It's easy to see how their force has worn away
the rock, as they thunder and swirl down through the mountain at a volume of
20,000 liters per second, carrying rocks and gravel with them. These are the
world's only underground glacier waterfalls that are accessible by lift,
galleries, tunnels, and platforms inside the mountain.
8. Faulhorn
The 2,681-meter
Faulhorn is one of Switzerland's most renowned viewpoints, where you can see
the giant peaks of the Bernese Oberland in all their magnificence. To reach it
take the chair-lift (30 minutes) to the First station and from there, it's an
hour's walk north to the Bachalpsee, at 2,264 meters. Or you can walk 3.5 hours
from Grindelwald to the Bachalpsee and then climb 1.5 hours to the summit where
there is a hotel open in the summer.
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