Switzerland – The Alpine village
of Grindelwald Written and photographed by Natalie Sobiesiak
Nestled in a valley in the scenic Bernese Oberland and cloistered
by the commanding mountain trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau
lies the charming town of Grindelwald. One of Switzerland’s
oldest mountain resorts, Grindelwald’s enduring appeal perhaps
stems from fact that it really has something to offer all tastes
and budgets. Whether you are a winter sports enthusiast, or prefer
adventures in summer, Grindelwald is a veritable playground for
outdoor lovers all year round and is an ideal base for exploring
the world famous Jungfrau region.
From anywhere in the town, you can be mesmerised by dramatic
views of snow-covered peaks below which gingerbread houses dot
the alpine landscape giving rise to a rustic ambience. Fairytale
Grindelwald is home to a resident population of just 4000 and
holidaying here can feel like you’re visiting a remote mountain
village or stepping back into a by-gone era, which certainly adds
to its charm. In reality, Grindelwald is conveniently located
just 35 minutes from Interlaken by railway and can even be accessed
by car from anywhere in Switzerland. Once you’re there,
Grindelwald is well connected to the nearby mountains by a network
of cable-cars which run with clockwork precision for which the
Swiss are world renowned.
The gondola ride from the village to First offers breathtaking
360 degree views as you ascend the mountain. Grindelwald came
to popularity as a ski resort and it’s not hard to see why;
every winter the green, rolling mountains are blanketed in snow
and the landscape is transformed into a skier’s paradise.
First, the most accessible mountain from Grindelwald, along with
nearby resorts of Wengen and Mürren offers some of the best
skiing in the Swiss Alps with pistes for the novice skier or snow-boarder
right through to more challenging runs. If you seek more difficult
terrain, the Eiger glacier has a series of adrenalin-pumping black
runs - definitely not the faint-hearted!
If skiing isn’t your style, there is a plethora of other
outdoor pursuits which keep tourists flocking to Grindelwald in
wintertime. Tobogganing, cross-country hiking and snow shoeing
are some of the more popular exploits and if you are new to any
of these winter sports and come unprepared, equipment hire is
available in the village. And after an exhilarating day on the
slopes, you can still enjoy picturesque surroundings from the
warmth and comfort of one of the many family run cafes or guest
houses as you sample traditional Alpine delicacies.
Grindelwald’s setting against the romantic backdrop of
the mighty snow-capped mountains is an undeniable drawcard in
wintertime. However, this resourceful Alpine village doesn’t
just rely on the cold months for its tourist trade. Come spring
and summer, Grindelwald rewards visitors with a starkly different
landscape and a vast choice of outdoor activities. In summertime,
the surrounding peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, although
still covered in wisps of white powder, seem a little less imposing
and as the snow melts in the valleys, the vibrancy of the landscape
is revealed.
These days, Grindelwald is a popular starting point for hiking
excursions from the end of May through to the end of September.
With 300km of walking trails around Grindelwald, there is definitely
no shortage of varied routes, from gentle paths that meander through
verdant meadows to steep gradients that ply a course up craggy
slopes; whatever your ability, hiking in Grindelwald offers some
of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Switzerland. As is
standard throughout the country, hiking trails are well marked
with frequent signposts. One of the most popular hikes which can
be accessed from Grindelwald is the trail from the town of Männlichen
to Kleine Scheidegg with permanent views of the majestic Eiger,
Mönch and Jungfrau peaks.
For adrenalin junkies, the fresh mountain air and stunning unspoilt
views in the surrounds of Grindelwald provide the perfect setting
for a wealth of action-packed extreme sports including mountain
climbing and biking, paragliding, river rafting, bungy jumping
and sky diving.
But arguably the highlight for any visitor to this region is
the scenic railway journey to the Jungfraujoch- the ‘Top
of Europe’- at 3454 metres above sea level. Alighting from
the train at Europe’s highest railway station just below
the summit of Jungfrau, weather permitting, an incomparable vista
awaits. From the Sphinx terrace you can marvel at the Aletschglacier,
Europe’s largest glacier, which winds around the peaks like
a frozen six lane highway. The Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region
is the most glaciated part of the Alps and has been designated
a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Here, in the highest town
in Europe, the snow never melts and even the perennial sub zero
temperatures are not a deterrent for the 600 000 tourists who
visit Jungfraujoch every year.
A keen backpacker, Natalie
Sobiesiak has travelled extensively throughout Australia,
Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. Whether trekking
in the Swiss Alps, floating in the Dead Sea or rolling chapatti
in India, Natalie is at home when she’s on the road.
She has lived and worked in Australia and the Middle East
and now resides in Switzerland where she works as the Communications
Manager for Babel Travel.
