Jungfrau

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the Mönch (4,099 m/13,449ft; four hours, easier), the "Monk"; the Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m/14,023ft; 6.5-8 hours), the highest peak in the Bernese Alps. There is also a popular glacier walk to Konkordiaplatz (2,840 m/9,318ft), on the Aletsch glacier.

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opened between Därlingen and Bönigen in 1874 (the first steamer on Lake Thun having gone into service nearly 40 years earlier, in 1836). This was followed in 1888 by the Brünigbahn between Lucerne and Interlaken, in 1893 by the Thuner-See-Bahn (Lake Thun railroad) and in 1913 by the Lötschberg railroad, which provided a link with Italy. The first mountain railroads in the Jungfrau area had been built some years previously.

The Jungfrau mountain railroads, all under the same management, now have a total length of more than 70km/43mi (all electric), with gauges of either 100 or 80 cm/39 or 31 inches.

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to 12% (1 in 8) (partly normal railroad line, partly rack-railroad).

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; from the Eigerwand (2,865 m/ 9,400ft) to the Eismeer (3,160 m/10,368ft) in 1905; and from the Eismeer (3,160 m/10,368ft) to the Jungfraujoch (3,454 m/11,333ft) in 1912.

Total length 9.3km/6mi; gauge 100 cm/39 in; gradients up to 25%.

Tunnel 7.1km/4mi long from the Eiger glacier to the Jungfraujoch. Rack-railroad (cog-railroad).

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Jungfraujoch. From here it is 4.4km/3mi to Eigerwand station.

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forms a little subterranean town of its own. An outer lobby (post office, shops, restaurants, lookout gallery) leads into the Ice Palace (Eispalast), a cavern hewn out of the glacier, with ice sculpture.

From the Sphinx Tunnel an elevator (112 m/367ft) ascends to the summit of the Sphinx (3,573 m/11,273ft), with an lookout terrace, a research institute and a weather station. There is also an exit from the tunnel giving access to a summer ski school; here, too, visitors can have a sleigh ride, pulled by husky dogs.

The views from the Jungfraujoch itself, the saddle of firn (névé) between the Mönch and the Jungfrau, are breathtaking. To the south can be seen the Aletsch glacier, 22km/14mi long, to the north the mountain world of the Alps, the Mittelland and beyond this, on clear days, the Vosges and the Black Forest.

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The line to both places is the same as far as Zweilütschinen, at the junction of two streams, the Schwarze Lütischine (Black Lütischine) coming from Grindelwald and the Weisse Lütischine (White Lütischine) from the Lauterbrunnen valley.

The rail journey from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald takes 40 minutes, from Grindelwald to the Kleine Scheidegg 35 minutes. The line runs below the dreaded north face of the Eiger, the most dangerous rock wall in the Alps, which claimed many deaths before it was finally climbed in 1938 by an Austrian team of four men (Vörg, Heckmayr, Harrer and Kasparek), who took four days for the ascent. The summit had already been reached by an Englishman, Christopher Berrington, in 1858, following a different route. The north face of the Eiger has since been climbed by over 700 men and women. A commemorative stone was unveiled in 1988 in memory of the first ascent.

The journey from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen takes 25minutes, from Lauterbrunnen to the Kleine Scheidegg 42minutes. There are parking facilities in Lauterbrunnen. The Wengernalpbahn runs up in 14minutes to Wengen, on a sunny terrace, sheltered from the wind, high above the Lauterbrunnen valley (4km/2mi).

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, with tremendous views of the nearby 4,000 m/13,124ft peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Magnificent walks; splendid skiing country (Arven, Honegg and Lauberhorn ski-lifts). Sight-seeing flights over the glaciers from Männlichen.

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is a cableway up Männlichen (2,343km/7,687ft), and numerous attractive footpaths. Particularly rewarding is the climb to the Wengernalp, either direct (1.75 hours) or by way of the Mettlealp (1,700 m/5,578ft; immediately opposite the Jungfrau; three hours).

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the Jungfrau. There is a chair-lift from Wengernalp Wixi to the Lauberhornschulter (2,310 m/7,579ft). 11km/7mi farther on is the Kleine Scheidegg, starting point of the Jungfraubahn.

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glacier towards the Wetterhorn, the Schreckhorn, the Fiescherhörner and the great crevasse under the Mönchsjoch. From here it is a journey of 50minutes (9.3km/6mi) along the rack-railroad to the Jungfraujoch.

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the Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m/6,762ft). Total length 10km/6mi (the longest single stretch track of rack-railroad line in Switzerland); gauge 80 cm/31 in; gradients up to 25% (1 in 4).

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-Grindelwald-Grund covers a height difference of 1,450 m/4,759ft. The height difference between Männlichen and Grindelwald (6km/4mi; intermediate) is 1,200 m/3,938ft. Schilthorn-Lauterbrunnen (12km/39mi; difficult) the height difference is 2,170 m/7,121ft. The First, Eigergletscher and Lauberhorn all have deep snow. Long-distance runs: Grindelwald-Bussalp (1,800 m/5,907ft; length 4km/2mi), Aspi-Grund (length 4km/2mi), Lauterbrunnen valley (12km/7mi), a circular course near Mürren and Lauterbrunnen-Stechelberg (12km/7mi).

Interlaken is the gateway to the three major ski areas of the Jungfrau Region. The picture postcard town of Grindelwald with its narrow streets and picturesque chalets is at the foot of the Eiger Mountain. Wengen is a car-free resort located halfway up the Eiger and overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Murren is another town that allows no private cars and is known for its famous black diamond Inferno run down the Schilthorn. The Grindelwald area has skiing for all levels of ability. Beginners will find the slopes near Wengen the best for learning to ski whereas beginners should stay away from Murren's slopes which are the most challenging in the Jungfrau region. The Jungfraubahn cog railroad not only takes skiers up the mountain but gives non-skiers the chance to get a close look at the treacherous North Face of the Eiger.