Lauterbrunnen – the valley of thundering waterfalls

“Lauter Brunnen”, even the name of the village hints at what visitors can expect in the narrow side valley of the Bernese Oberland. The tranquil village of Lauterbrunnen is the starting point for the most famous excursion destinations in the Jungfrau Region. From here you can climb the Schilthorn on one side and take the cogwheel railway towards the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau on the other. The valley itself captivates with its many waterfalls. There are said to be 72.

When we get off the train in Lauterbrunnen and take a first look at the valley in front of us, it seems to us that there are far more than 72 waterfalls cascading down the steep rock faces. This majestic sight has always enchanted guests from all over the world. Both the poet Goethe and John Ronald Reuel Tolkien were inspired by the landscape and incorporated the beautiful landscape into poems and texts (both in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”).

Today, Lauterbrunnen itself is a popular starting point for adventurous backpackers and has gained fame as a base jumper mecca. For people like us who are not so keen on the ultimate adrenaline kick, the village offers the ideal starting point for leisurely walks along the Weisse Lütschine to Stechelberg. By the way, there are two impressive waterfalls to marvel at along the way.

Hike to the Staubbach Falls

The first brings Lauterbrunnen a fine drizzle on windy days. The Staubbach Falls are located at the entrance to the village and, with a drop of 300 metres, are the second highest waterfall in Switzerland. Goethe dedicated his poem “Song of the Spirits over the Waters” to these impressive masses of water, which plunge freely over the rocks. We don’t miss the opportunity to climb up the narrow zigzag path to the waterfall and take a look behind the masses of water via the rock gallery.

Idyll in the Lauterbrunnen Valley

But you shouldn’t be afraid of water, because the fine water droplets leave mercilessly wet traces on our clothes. We continue on the tarred road past idyllically situated chalets.

Roaring Underworld

At “Buechen” we turn left in the direction of the Trümmelbach Falls, which are a “cultural monument of national importance” according to the Federal Inventory and are at the same time located on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. Admission to the impressive natural spectacle costs CHF 11 for adults and CHF 4 for children. From the outside, the masses of water can only be guessed at. The special thing about the Trümmelbach Falls is that they are located inside the rock massif of the Black Monk and are the only accessible underground glacier waterfalls.

With an adventurous lift we go up into the rock labyrinth. The numerous falls are accessible with tunnels, galleries, paths and platforms. On this day, the bubbling masses of water plunge into the depths with such force that in some places I have the feeling that I am standing directly in front of a breaking giant wave and am about to be pushed down.

It is incredibly difficult to capture the raw beauty and impressive scale of this place in pictures. You should definitely experience this for yourself on site. In Norway, we joked about the umpteen impressive waterfalls that the Lauterbrunnen Valley now has to make a lot of effort to outdo Norway. But anyone who has experienced the Trümmel Falls live knows that the Lauterbrunnen Valley is rightly considered THE valley of waterfalls. So much strength in one place – I’m soaking wet and speechless after the tour!

Hike along the Weisse Lütschine to Stechelberg

On the last kilometer to Lengwald, where we take the cable car up to Mürren, we actually spot one or the other base jumper in the air. The walk through the Lauterbrunnen Valley takes about two hours at a leisurely pace and is mostly flat. If you are looking for seclusion, you will find what you are looking for in the rear Lauterbrunnen valley – behind Stechelberg. A natural paradise awaits ambitious hikers here.

Note: My visit to the Lauterbrunnen Valley was supported by the Jungfrau Region. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.

Merken