Day 3 – Berner Oberland

Isaac Church — Mon, 13 May 2019 22:00:15 +0000

This morning we overslept and woke up later than intended, around 07:10, in Lauterbrunnen – the heart of Berner Oberland, as we began our second day in Switzerland. We got dressed and headed down to our hotel lobby to grab some breakfast. Our plan was to take the first train up the mountain at 07:37, but since we overslept, we took one about an hour or so later.

Breakfast - Hotel Oberland

For breakfast, we enjoyed a variety of meat, fruit, bread, jam, honey, cheese, and more.

Jungfraubahn

After breakfast, we walked to the Lauterbrunnen train station, purchased our tickets, and boarded the train for Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest rail station. Along the way, the train passed through Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg (where we changed trains), and a few other smaller villages. We couldn’t see much for the clouds.

Jungfrau Railway

The Jungfrau Railway (Jungfraubahn) runs all the way from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch Station, Europe’s highest railway station. At Zweilütschinen, the railway forks east to Grindelwald, and south to Lauterbrunnen. The railway joins again at Kleine Scheidegg.

The depot at the mountain pass of Kleine Scheidegg (2,061m // 6,762′) is the final train interchange before making the climb to Jungfraujoch. This final stage goes 9km (~5.5mi) in a tunnel through the Mönch and Eiger, finally stopping at Jungfraujoch (3,454 m // 11,332′).

Construction of the railway started in 1896 and took 16 years to complete.

Railway Map

Faith and a blurry train

White out

Kleine Scheidegg

Jungfraubahn tunnel

Jungfraujoch

About an hour and a half later, we arrived at Jungfraujoch. The views were breathtaking. While it was overcast in the valley below, we were now high above the clouds, and the sun was shining brightly. It was not a good day for me to forget my sunglasses…

Aletsch Glacier

Jungfraujoch

Bernese Alps

When viewed from the west, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau sit from left to right. The etymology is quite fascinating: the Mönch (monk) is protecting the Jungfrau (maiden/young woman) from the Eiger (ogre).

These three peaks lie just a few miles northwest of the Alps’ largest glacier, the Great Aletsch Glacier (Grosser Aletschgletscher), which is over 14 miles long.

Since the Eiger’s north face was successfully climbed in 1858, at least 64 climbers have died attempting to scale it.

We explored the observatory for a while, and closed our journey with a venture out onto the snow for some pictures.

Jungfraujoch Ice Cave

There was also an ice cave…

Jungfraujoch ice cave

Train Ride Down // Lunch

We thought about getting lunch at the top, but after seeing the prices, decided to venture back the valley instead.

Switzerland is very expensive! A small salad like this cost nearly USD$20.

It was clearing up just a little on the train ride down, so the views were a little better. We met a group of four people about our age from Alabama, and had a lively conversation with them on the way down.

Now back in Lauterbrunnen, we stopped at the local grocery store, Co-op, to buy a quick lunch. We got some dried beef and salami, some delicious local cheese, and yogurt.

Berner Oberland

While I’m thinking about it, here’s some more info on the Berner Oberland.

The Berner Oberland, also known as the Bernese Highlands or Bernese Oberland, is the southernmost (and highest) of the five districts of the canton of Bern. The residents speak the Highest Alemannic German dialect, which has many different plurals than Bernese German and has more “n” sounds.

Lauterbrunnen Coat of Arms

The Romans, who used various nearby mountain passes, first settled the area. Three main peaks protrude from the southeastern wall of the Lauterbrunnen valley: the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. These three peaks form a highly recognizable landscape, visible from many miles away on a clear day.

Trummelbachfälle

After lunch, we drove to Trummelbachfälle, a waterfall that is actually inside the mountain. A funicular took us about halfway up; we walked the rest of the way up, and then walked back down. The waterfall was enormous and thundering, and was quite the site to behold. We came out slightly wet from the spray and water drippings.

Trummelbachfälle

A view of the valley from the falls

Funicular

Levels of the falls

Trummelbachfälle

Gimmelwald

Next, we left Trummelbachfälle and drove almost to the end of the Lauterbrunnen valley to Stechelberg to take a cable car up to the villages of Gimmelwald and Mürren. Gimmelwald is a traditional alpine village and has maintained its historic state by getting itself declared an “avalanche zone”, so no modern buildings can be built in the village.

Cowbells

A frolicky horse we met

Gimmelwald

Gimmelwald had several self-service food stations where hikers could buy snacks or locals buy essentials like eggs or milk. We bought a package of beef wurst to eat later.

Alpkäse self-service

The Honesty Shop

Cheese storage/aging hut

You can fill your water bottle at any fountain like this across the Alps

Mürren

After exploring Gimmelwald for half an hour, we took the cable car up once more to the larger, more modern village of Mürren. Locals and workers access these villages by very steep roads, but only when necessary because they are dangerous. All pedestrians and tourists must park at the bottom and use the cable car, often hauling luggage to their hotels high above.

The village, high above Gimmelwald

Downtown Mürren

Dinner - Restaurant Stägerstübli

By this time, we were very hungry for dinner, so we stopped at Restaurant Stägerstübli in Mürren for dinner. I got Rösti mit Käse überbacken (hash browns smothered in cheese), and Faith got Rösti mit Käse überbacken (hash browns with vegetables). We each got an espresso to go with our meal.

Restaurant Stägerstübli

Hiking Down

After dinner, we explored Mürren a bit more, and then hiked back down to Gimmelwald to take the cable car down from there. It was a very pleasant hike; we saw great scenery, alpine farms, and even a wild chamois on the path. We made the cable car with no time to spare (we had to run a little at the end).

Yellow signs like this direct you around the Alps, often including walking time (as clocked by local senior citizens)

Frische Milch

Now back at our car at the bottom of the valley, we started the ~8min drive back to our hotel in the town of Lauterbrunnen. Along the way, we stopped at a dairy farm that had a fresh milk dispenser. You drop in some coins, place your personal container under the spout, and the machine spouts cold milk, fresh from the farm that morning. The milk was deliciously sweet and buttery. We took it back to the hotel, where we enjoyed it while settling down for the evening. It was now ~20:00.

Frisch Milch

Frische Milch

Stechelberg, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Not exactly a restaurant, but this was one of the neatest experiences we had on the trip – and the best milk I’ve ever had!

* – Would definitely visit again

** – Exceptional, must visit if you’re in the area

*** – Worth making a special trip to eat there

For more info on food ratings, click here.

Auf Wiedersehen

Unfortunately, tonight is our final night in Lauterbrunnen and the Berner Oberland. Tomorrow we drive to Valle d’Aosta in Italy. We both agree we didn’t allow nearly enough time for this area, but maybe we can return one day. It is very expensive though, so I’ll be glad to get out of Switzerland for a few days.

That’s all for today! See you tomorrow from Italy (and a little more of Switzerland).

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Mürren Archives - Isaac Church // isaactchurch.com

Day 3 – Berner Oberland

Breakfast - Hotel Oberland

Jungfraubahn

Railway Map

Jungfraujoch

Jungfraujoch Ice Cave

Train Ride Down // Lunch

Lauterbrunnen Coat of Arms

Trummelbachfälle

Gimmelwald

Mürren

Dinner - Restaurant Stägerstübli

Hiking Down

Frische Milch

Frische Milch

Stechelberg, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Auf Wiedersehen

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