Jungfrau Attractions

There are two routes from Interlaken to the Kleine Scheidegg (starting point of the Jungfraubahn), either via Lauterbrunnen or via Grindelwald: the best plan is to go one way and come back the other. 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).

Opened 1890; from Interlaken Ost (East station) to Lauterbrunnen (796 m/2,612ft) and from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald (1,034 m/3,393ft). Total length 23.5km/15mi; gauge 100 cm/39 in; gradients up to 12% (1 in 8) (partly normal railroad line, partly rack-railroad).

Climbs from the Jungfraujoch (only to be undertaken with a guide): the Jungfrau (4,158 m/13,642ft; four hours, difficult), so named (the "Maiden") in honor of the Augustinian nuns of Interlaken; 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.

Cable railroad, opened 1908; from Interlaken (567 m/1,860ft) to the Harderkulm (1,322 m/4,337ft). Length 1.4km/1mi; gauge 100 cm/39 in; gradients up to 84% (1 in 1.5).

The first stop on the Jungfraubahn is Eigergletscher (Eiger Glacier) (2,320 m/7,612ft; inn), in magnificently wild scenery and then enters the long tunnel (7.1km/4mi) which leads up towards the Jungfraujoch. From here it is 4.4km/3mi to Eigerwand station.

Eigerwand station (2,865 m/9,400ft), with a magnificent view of Grindelwald, 1,800 m/5,906ft below. From here the line runs under the Eiger and it is 5.7km/4mi to Eismeer (Sea of Ice).

First section, from the Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m/6,762ft) to the Eiger glacier (2,320 m/7,612ft), opened in 1898; from the Eiger glacier (2,320 m/7,612ft) to the Eigerwand (2,865 m/9,400ft) in 1903; 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).

The Jungfraujoch (3,454 m/11,333ft), the highest railroad station in Europe, which together with the accommodation for visitors, the research stations, the underground passages and the elevators 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.

The Jungfrau area of most interest to visitors extends north from the 4,000 m/13,124ft peaks of the Bernese Oberland towards Lake Thun and Brienz. A railroad line connecting the two lakes was 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.

Opened 1891; from Lauterbrunnen (796 m/2,612ft) to the Grütschalp (1,487 m/4,879ft), cableway; Grütschalp-Mürren (1,650 m/5,414ft), railroad. Total length 5.7km/4mi; gauge 100 cm/39 in; gradients up to 61% (1 in 1.6) (cableway).

Opened 1893 (associated with the Berner-Oberland-Bahnen since 1895); from Wilderswil (584 m/1,916ft) to the Schynige Platte (1,967 m/6,454ft). Length 7.3km/5mi; gauge 80 cm/31 in; gradients up to 25% (1 in 4) (rack-railroad).

Eismeer (Sea of Ice, 3,160 m/10,368ft) on the south face of the Eiger, 40 m/131ft above the Upper Grindelwald-Fiescher Firn (névé, or frozen snow), with views over the much-crevassed surface of the 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.

Cable railroad opened 1912; from Mürren (1,650 m/5,414ft) to the Allmendhubel (1,912 m/6,273ft). Length 536 m/1,759ft; gauge 100 cm/39 in; gradients up to 61% (1 in 1.6).

The skiing area of the Jungfrau region around Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren offers 175km/109mi of pistes with 43 stations. The 10km/6mi long intermediate descent Lauberhorn-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.

Kleine Scheidegg (2,081 m/6,830ft; Scheidegg Hotels, open December-September), the terminus of the rack (cog) railroads from Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald and the starting-point of the Jungfraubahn, 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.

Next to a self-service restaurant is Jungfraujoch's first-class Top of Europe restaurant opened in 1987, offers magnificent views of the mountains and in fine weather the Aletsch glacier.

Wengen (1,300 m/4,267ft; pop. 1,150), beautifully situated at the foot of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, is an ideal base for walks and climbs in the mountain world of the Bernese Oberland. There 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).

From Wengen the railroad continues up for another 4km/2mi to the Wengernalp (1,873 m/6,145ft; Hotel Jungfrau, November-April, 45b.), from which there are splendid views of the Trümleten valley and 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.

Opened 1893: from Lauterbrunnen (796 m/2,612ft) to Wengen (1,274 m/4,180ft), the Wengernalp (1,873 m/6,145ft) and the Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m/6,762ft), and from Grindelwald (1,034 m/3,393ft) to 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).