Lauterbrunnen and Mürren: the valley of 72 waterfalls
The Lauterbrunnen valley looks as if someone cut it out with a knife. Sheer rock walls hundreds of metres high, green meadows on the valley floor, wooden chalets and waterfalls everywhere. There are 72 of them. And up on the valley's edge stands the village of Mürren, which no road reaches. For me, one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland.
- Lauterbrunnen – village and Staubbach 46.593° N, 7.909° E
- Trümmelbach – waterfalls inside the mountain 46.566° N, 7.913° E
- Grütschalp – cable car from the valley 46.588° N, 7.894° E
- Mürren – car-free village 46.559° N, 7.893° E
- Gimmelwald – tiny mountain village 46.546° N, 7.891° E
- Schilthorn – Piz Gloria, 2,970 m 46.558° N, 7.835° E
Staubbachfall
Right by the village of Lauterbrunnen, the Staubbachfall pours off the rock wall: at 297 metres, one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Switzerland. As it falls the water breaks into a fine mist (Staub = dust). A short path inside the rock leads behind the falls. It inspired a poem by Goethe and Tolkien's Rivendell.
Trümmelbachfälle
Ten glacial waterfalls hidden inside the mountain. A lift takes you up into the rock, and along steps and tunnels you pass the roaring water that drains the melting ice of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau: up to 20,000 litres a second. Open only from spring to autumn.
Mürren: a village without cars
You reach Mürren by cable car from Lauterbrunnen up to Grütschalp and then by a little train along the valley's edge, or by cable car from Stechelberg via Gimmelwald. The village stands at 1,638 m, and the view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is unreal.
Gimmelwald and the Schilthorn
Gimmelwald is a tiny mountain village below Mürren where time runs slower. Homemade cheese and cured meats are sold on verandas on trust. The Schilthorn (2,970 m), with its revolving Piz Gloria restaurant, was made famous by the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. A view of more than 200 peaks.
Paragliding over the valley
Lauterbrunnen and the area around Interlaken are a paraglider's paradise. From the mountain above Mürren I photographed dozens of colourful wings circling above the clouds. A tandem flight with a pilot is an experience you can book in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen.
Where to stay
In the valley there's the Jungfrau campsite (one of the most beautiful campsites in the Alps) and hotels in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren. The prices are Swiss: high. A cheaper option is to stay in Interlaken and travel in. How I travelled around Switzerland alone and on a budget, I write in a solo road trip and hiking in Switzerland.
Faq
How many waterfalls are in the Lauterbrunnen valley?
The valley is nicknamed "the valley of 72 waterfalls". The best known are the Staubbachfall and the Trümmelbachfälle.
How do I get to Mürren?
By cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and the train to Mürren, or by cable car from Stechelberg via Gimmelwald. No road leads to Mürren.
How much time do I need for Lauterbrunnen?
At least two days for the valley and Mürren. Three to four with hikes and the Schilthorn.
