Jungfrau Attractions

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.

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.

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.