“Seeing it fries the circuits like lightning to a lamp.”
– Jedidiah Jenkins, on visiting Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Jedidiah Jenkins shared this image on his Instagram Stories recently and I’ve wanted to visit Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland ever since:
Some folks say it’s the most spectacular glacial valley in the world.
Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the trough valleys in the Alps and was first mentioned in writing in the year 1240. I read that the name means ‘many fountains’ which describes the magnificence of the area with its 72 thundering waterfalls. The alpine meadows below are colorful and the landscape is dotted with cheerful-looking mountain homes and inns.
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I also learned that it’s one of the biggest nature conservation areas in all of Switzerland and that there are several great walking/cycling trails in this particular region.
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Even the cemetery in Lauterbrunnen bursts with beauty and color…
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I don’t know if that’s a vacation rental in that last pic, but if it is, I’d nickname it Circuit Frier. 😉
Layla
Thank you for sharing Layla, about 7 years ago my husband had to go to Germany for training, (he fixes and installs Machines) His boss paid for me to go with him, and also,for us to drive to the Alps and stay in a Chalet, we got there in the dark and woke up to an amazing view of the Alp’s! It was so beautiful it took my breath away!
It is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been!!
It has an aerial tramway and views from on the tram are breathtaking! Hold the dream to visit!! Lesley
Wow, truly beautiful! Wouldn’t it be nice to see all cemeteries so beautifully cared for here? Most won’t even let you leave a bunch of flowers anymore. :-((
Maybe if you save, save, save, you can go for your 15th Anniversary!!!
The translation of Lauterbrunnen into “many fountains”, which you found made me go: “Hmmmmmmm…..”
I am German and something about the translation just didn’t sit quite right with me. But fear not – Wikipedia knows everything, hehe!
“Lauter” refers to the purity of the wells. It is a rather old word and many German-speakers today would be stumped to translate it into modern German. But once I read Wikipedia’s explanation, I said: “Oh, yeah, I remember that word!” I think that it can also be used to describe a person’s character, etc.
Although I have never been to Lauterbrunnen, I have been to Switzerland many times. If you ever have a chance to go – never hesitate! It is quite different from any mountaineous (How do you spell that?!?!) area that you find in the States. And I should know – I live in Colorado.
Iris, wouldn’t you agree that the cemeteries all over Switzerland, Austria, and Germany are similar to this one…..meaning decorated and kept up with flowers, lights, etc..?? I lived in Germany for one year and recall them being so beautiful….especially at night if they had the little lights.
I can just imagine Heidi skipping along a path!
Childhood books really stayed with me after
ALL these years! Beautiful!!!
Ok Wow~ this place is so amazing it’s almost not real~ and no cemetery that I have ever seen has ever been so bright and beautiful that it makes you want to be in there!!!!! Thanks for letting me know of this storybook valley of greatness!! Just wish I didn’t have to fly to get there!! :(. But by the looks of it it would totally be worth it!! 😍
A few years ago we traveled to Interlaken Switzerland which is very close to Lauterbrunnen. It is just as beautiful as your post shows. We stumbled upon a small village Gimmelwald just up the mountain from Interlaken. In our one week stay we ventured to Lauterbrunnen, Jungfrau & twice we trekked up to Gimmelwald. We wanted to live there! Read Rick Steves feelings about Gimmelwald. Save your money & go!! We’ve wanted to return ever since! Try it I think you love it!
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/gimmelwald-the-swiss-alps-in-your-lap
I stayed in Grindelwald with Beth Moore (Christian author) and a group of girls from our Louisville, Ky Church. It was magical. Daily we trekked our to Lake Brienze, Interlaken, Wengen and a day or two in Zurich and Lucerne. Of the many places I’ve travelled,(Israel, Scotland, Europe) that was my most favorite trip. Such an easy country to travel in too. People are so nice. And Wow! How clean and tidy even their wood piles are! The Top of Europe, Jungfrau Glacier, is unbelievable! Riding the trains, gondolas, funiculars are a piece of cake! Glad you got to go….hopefully someday we both can return to that magical place👋👋👋
Oh, that was so much fun to read, Deborah! Thank you for sharing your story! 😀
Truly one of the most beautiful places in the world! We lived in Germany for a few years and visited Lauterbrunnen several times, always taking visiting friends and family. Never a wasted trip. Switzerland is expensive but this area is totally worth it. Spend a few days and hike, rent bikes, and explore. And take lots of pictures. 🙂 But not a one will do it justice!
Hi Layla, I am new to The Lettered Cottage from Thistlewood Farms. You have a beautiful and interesting blog and am enjoying it so much. I spent two weeks in Switzerland w/a few ladies from my church. We went up into the Alps for bible study with Beth Moore (Christian author). Stayed and travelled out from Grindelwald, Switzerland. Travelled to Lucerne, Interlaken, Zurich. But favorite was up in the Alps…Grindelwald. We took the “funicular” (cog train) up to the “Top of Europe…Jungfrau”..highest point in all of Europe. Truly breathtaking (in more ways than one)! I’ve been thru out Europe and in Israel. Still Switzerland is my most beautiful trip. If ever you get there visit Wengen a small (no cars) Village in the Alps! Heaven on Earth.
Thank you for your blog,
Deborah