Lauterbrunnen

Why go

The village makes the valley's shape immediately clear: sheer walls rise above the houses, and Staubbach Falls drops from one of them. It also offers a useful choice of onward journeys, towards Kleine Scheidegg on one side or the Mürren side on the other. Allow time to see the valley floor before treating Lauterbrunnen as a transfer point.

What to look for

• Staubbach Falls drops over the cliff close to Lauterbrunnen village.
• Steep limestone walls frame the narrow valley floor.
• Mountain routes branch from the village towards Kleine Scheidegg and Mürren.

The full story

Lauterbrunnen's waterfalls are tied to the valley's shape. Streams reach the lip of the high rock walls and fall towards a floor that is narrow beside the surrounding mountains; Staubbach is the best-known fall near the village. The name Lauterbrunnen has long been associated with springs, though explanations of the word lauter differ. This is also a settled valley, not just a mountain backdrop. The municipality includes Wengen and Mürren above the valley floor as well as villages farther along it. Rail links made the village a junction for these different levels of the landscape: trains arrive from Interlaken, climb towards Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg, while a separate connection reaches the Mürren side. From the village, look up before deciding which higher route to take.

Useful to know

• Start at Lauterbrunnen station, then walk into the village to see the valley walls and Staubbach Falls.
• Check the onward rail or cable-car timetable before choosing the Kleine Scheidegg or Mürren side.
• Treat any access to the Staubbach Gallery separately from the open village and valley floor.

Your next visit

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