Grindelwald

Grindelwald, a lovely town and municipality tucked away in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative area of the canton of Berne, lies in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Comprising about 3,800 people, this little Alpine town is 1,034 meters (3,392 feet) above sea level and provides amazing views of the nearby mountainous terrain. Both Swiss and foreign visitors alike have come to Grindelwald because of its strategic location, which overlooks a striking portion of the Bernese Alps from the Wetterhorn to the famous Eiger.

Grindelwald has almost a millennium of history; the first known reference of the settlement comes from 1146. This rich historical background has seen a little Alpine town grow into a worldwide mountaineering and winter sports hub. Often referred to as the golden age of alpinism, the 19th century brought Grindelwald a sea change. Grindelwald found itself at the epicenter of this growing mountaineering culture as eager adventurers and intrepid explorers started to swarm the Alps in search of conquest of its great heights. The village’s proximity to some of the most difficult and breathtaking mountains in the Bernese Alps—including the infamous north face of the Eiger—solidified its reputation as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and climbers.

Apart from the main village, Grindelwald’s municipality consists of several smaller communities that add to its varied Alpine character. These cover Alpiglen, Burglauenen, Grund, Itramen, Mühlebach, Schwendi, Tschingelberg, and Wargistal. Every one of these hamlets adds to the rich tapestry of Grindelwald’s community by providing guests with a window into the classic Swiss mountain way of life that has been maintained over decades.

The geography of Grindelwald is quite remarkable. The town is nestled in a valley with some of the most recognizable Swiss Alpine peaks on either side. Over its history, this natural amphitheater of rock and ice has defined and sheltered the community. The imposing north faces of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau dominate the skyline to the south; their snow-capped summits are often covered in clouds, adding an air of mystery and appeal to the landscape. For millennia, artists, writers, and photographers have found inspiration in this dramatic backdrop, in addition to helping to shape the growth of the village.

Beyond its mountainous topography, the area is naturally beautiful. Part of the bigger Jungfrau Region of the Bernese Oberland, Grindelwald is known for its varied ecosystems, immaculate alpine meadows, and crystalline mountain lakes. Including the nearby Lauterbrunnen Valley, this area is evidence of the unadulterated beauty and force of the Alpine surroundings. Just beyond Grindelwald’s door, the UNESCO World Heritage site Jungfrau-Aletsch provides access to one of Europe’s most breathtaking high-mountain settings.

Grindelwald’s growth as a tourist destination has been much aided by transportation. Through a system of railroads that have grown to be attractions unto themselves, the village is well-connected to the outside world. Linking Grindelwald to Interlaken, the entrance to the Bernese Alps, the Bernese Oberland Railway offers picturesque travel over the mountain valleys. Rising from Grindelwald, the Wengernalp Railway reaches Kleine Scheidegg, a mountain pass providing a base for more high Alpine exploration. One of Europe’s most amazing engineering achievements starts right here in Kleine Scheidegg: the Jungfrau Railway rising from the Eiger and Mönch to reach the Jungfraujoch, a col between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks, at an elevation of 3,454 meters (11,332 feet), this cogwheel railway, the highest in Europe, tunnels through the Alps. Often referred to as the “Top of Europe,” the Jungfraujoch station provides access to the large Aletsch Glacier and unmatched views of the surrounding Alpine panorama.

Grand-scale tourism of the Grindelwald region was made possible in great part by the development of these railway lines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Once only accessible to the most committed and suited mountaineers, a far larger audience could now reach what was once only for the daring. This accessibility has been a two-edged blade, bringing economic wealth to the area and casting doubt on sustainable travel and environmental preservation of the Alps.