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98-708: Administratively, the summit is within the municipality of Lauterbrunnen , although the western slopes are within the municipality of Reichenbach im Kandertal . Both municipalities are in the canton of Bern . The summit has a panoramic view which spans from the Titlis , Jungfrau , Mönch , Eiger , over the Bernese Alps and the Jura mountains up to the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest . Mont Blanc

196-444: A Fachhochschule ). Of the 302 who completed tertiary schooling, 57.9% were Swiss men, 24.5% were Swiss women, 9.3% were non-Swiss men and 8.3% were non-Swiss women. The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory Kindergarten , followed by six years of primary school. This is followed by three years of obligatory lower secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following

294-529: A certain amount of independence from the monastery. Three years later, much of the Bernese Oberland unsuccessfully rose up against monastery. When the monastery suppressed the rebellion, the Walser villages bore the brunt of the monastery's wrath. By the 15th century, the villages of the valley were part of the large parish of Gsteig bei Interlaken (now part of Gsteigwiler ). Between 1487 and 1488,

392-575: A considerable distance beyond the village and valley, with an area of 164.51 km (63.52 sq mi). It reaches as far as the peaks of the Eiger , Mönch and Jungfrau to the east, the Gletscherhorn , Mittaghorn , Grosshorn , Breithorn and Tschingelhorn to the south, and the Gspaltenhorn and Schilthorn to the west. The Kleine Scheidegg Pass crosses over to Grindelwald to

490-402: A mecca for BASE jumpers. Approximately 20,000 jumps are recorded annually, which is about four times the number recorded in the early 2000s and twice as much as in the 2010s.   · In 2023, 600 BASE jumpers from various countries visited Lauterbrunnen to engage in this extreme sport. Wingsuit BASE jumping is an extreme sport with a high fatality rate. In Lauterbrunnen, the average

588-805: A modern meaning of the word lauter in German; however, this could be an example of a folk etymology . The oldest trace of a settlement in the area is a single Roman coin which was discovered in the Blumental. When the Lauterbrunnen Valley first appears in the historic record, during the 13th century, it was owned by the Freiherr of Wädenswil. In 1240 the Freiherr of Wädenswil sold the Sefinen Valley to Interlaken Monastery . Over

686-478: A mother language different from the classroom language. The municipality had 12 primary classes and 187 students. Of the primary students, 15.0% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 12.8% had a mother tongue different from the classroom language. During the same year, there were six lower secondary classes with a total of 99 students. There were 8.1% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 5.1% who had

784-442: A total of 1,090 apartments (40.4% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 1,414 apartments (52.4%) were seasonally occupied and 196 apartments (7.3%) were empty. As of 2010 , the construction rate of new housing units was 4.3 new units per 1000 residents. The vacancy rate for the municipality in 2011 was 0.66%. The historical population is given in the following chart: The cableway between Stechelberg and Schilthorn and

882-454: A total of 1,581 apartments (44.9% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 1,750 apartments (49.6%) were seasonally occupied and 194 apartments (5.5%) were empty. As of 2010 , the construction rate of new housing units was 13.1 new units per 1000 residents. The historical population is given in the following chart: The Jungfraubahn , a mountain railway up the Jungfrau mountain,

980-431: A total of 1,605 full-time equivalent jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 77, of which 70 were in agriculture and 7 were in forestry or lumber production. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 207 of which 20 or (9.7%) were in manufacturing and 124 (59.9%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 1,321. In the tertiary sector; 132 or 10.0% were in wholesale or retail sales or

1078-481: A total of 2,714 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 334 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 130 businesses involved in this sector. 393 people were employed in the secondary sector , and there were 51 businesses in this sector. 1,987 people were employed in the tertiary sector , with 229 businesses in this sector. There were 2,403 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 45.4% of

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1176-609: A year. The source of the river comes from melting snow high in the mountains, thus making it a very pure and clean source of water. Trümmelbach Falls is 3 km (1.9 mi) from Lauterbrunnen, connected by bus from the station. Notable waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen The valley also includes many glaciers, such as the Tschingelfirn and the Rottalgletscher . The municipality of Lauterbrunnen extends

1274-550: Is also a popular summer activity resort with many miles of hiking trails across the Alps. The first person to ski there was Englishman, Gerald Fox (who lived at Tone Dale House ) who put his skis on in his hotel bedroom in 1881 and walked out through the hotel bar to the slopes wearing them. In Grindelwald, about 1,647 or (40.5%) of the population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education , and 302 or (7.4%) have completed additional higher education (either university or

1372-523: Is also just visible. To get to the Schilthorn from the valley floor, a series of cable cars must be taken. The cable cars begin in Stechelberg leaving to Gimmelwald and then onto Mürren. From Mürren another cable car is taken to Birg , which is the final change before the Schilthorn. This cable airway is the longest and was the most technically challenging airway to be built. The other way up

1470-751: Is connected to Interlaken by the Bernese Oberland Railway and is the start of the Wengernalp Railway , leading to Kleine Scheidegg . The latter resort is the start of the Jungfrau Railway , the highest railway in Europe and a gateway to the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area . The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules on a Bar Argent a Semi Chamois rampant issuant Sable between seven, 4-3, Mullets of

1568-483: Is followed by three years of obligatory lower secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower secondary school, students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship . During the 2010-11 school year, there were a total of 247 students attending classes in Lauterbrunnen. There were 3 kindergarten classes with a total of 36 students in

1666-488: Is heavily forested, and 2.3% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 5.1% is pastures and 23.8% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 6.6% is unproductive vegetation, 24.0% is too rocky for vegetation, and 21.6% of the land is covered by glaciers. The highest peaks of the valley, from the Wellhorn and Wetterhorn to

1764-618: Is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance . The land around the Kleine Scheidegg is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites . Both Jungfraubahn and Kleine Scheidegg are shared between the municipalities of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen . In the 2011 federal election , the most popular party was the Swiss People's Party (SVP) which received 54.2% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were

1862-701: Is the Ice cap climate zone. Grindelwald railway station , in the centre of Grindelwald village, is served by trains of the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB), which run to Interlaken , and by trains of the Wengernalpbahn (WAB), which run to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen . At Kleine Scheidegg, a connection can be made with the Jungfraubahn , which ascends inside the Eiger to

1960-689: Is the last major development in the valley. The Grindelwald region has been the subject of scientific investigations, including in the "Alpine Studies" by the English alpinist W. A. B. Coolidge (1912) and in the Unesco research program Man and Biosphere of the Geographical Institute of the University of Bern on the effects of tourism (1979–1984). The municipality is quite large and is divided into seven mountain communities. However

2058-524: Is three fatalities per year. The first fatal accident occurred in 1994, claiming the life of BASE jumper and alpinist Xaver Bongard, who had introduced the sport to the valley in 1989 after being introduced to it by Will Oxx in Yosemite. Since then, and as of July 2024, 68 BASE jumpers have died in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. In 2021, the parish of Lauterbrunnen unveiled a memorial in its cemetery, dedicated to BASE jumpers and mountaineers who lost their lives in

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2156-423: Is to take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and a train to Mürren, from where the cable car must be taken. Between Birg and the summit, the cable car passes over Grauseeli, a small lake. It is also possible to hike to the peak, along the myriad of small, but well-marked paths to the top. The hike to the top takes roughly five hours from Gimmelwald for a fit walker. The panoramic revolving restaurant at

2254-441: Is unproductive vegetation, 31.3% is too rocky for vegetation and 16.3% of the land is covered by glaciers. The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per fess Argent a Semi Ibex rampant couped Sable and Vert three Piles wavy issuant from base of the first. The three stripes represent three famous waterfalls around the village. The village Lauterbrunnen has a population (as of December 2020 ) of 2,301. As of 2010 , 22.6% of

2352-438: The Bernese Oberland Railway and is the start of the Wengernalp Railway , leading to Kleine Scheidegg . The latter resort is the start of the Jungfrau Railway , the highest railway in Europe and a gateway to the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area . Lauterbrunnen was first mentioned in 1240 as "in claro fonte" , a Romance language place name meaning "clear spring". By 1253, it was known to German speakers as Liuterbrunnon ;

2450-776: The Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) (14.8%), the FDP.The Liberals (8.8%) and the Green Party (6.9%). In the federal election, a total of 1,194 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 44.4%. The principal commercial artery of Grindelwald is the Dorfstrasse, which is the prolongation of the Grindelwaldstrasse, the main access road of the village. As of  2011 , Grindelwald had an unemployment rate of 1.48%. As of 2008 , there were

2548-488: The Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) (21.5%), the Social Democratic Party (SP) (14.6%) and the FDP.The Liberals (14.3%). In the federal election, a total of 733 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 43.0%. As of  2011 , Lauterbrunnen had an unemployment rate of 1.9%. As of 2008 , there were a total of 1,908 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 147 people employed in

2646-441: The Eiger and Mönch , are part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area , a world heritage site. On 31 December 2009, Amtsbezirk Interlaken, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Interlaken-Oberhasli. Grindelwald has a population (as of December 2020 ) of 3,800. As of 2010 , 18.0% of the population are resident foreign nationals. In

2744-499: The Great Depression . However, following the end of World War II , tourism rebounded. Many new vacation homes and chalets were built along with ski lifts, chair lifts and a heliport. On 1 January 1973, the former municipality of Isenfluh merged into the municipality of Lauterbrunnen. On 31 December 2009, Amtsbezirk Interlaken, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined

2842-530: The Grosse Scheidegg , at nearly 2,000 metres above sea level. Long famed as a winter tourist destination with slopes for beginners, intermediates and the challenges of the Eiger glacier for the experienced, there are activities for the non-skiers, from tobogganing to groomed winter hiking tracks. It is the usual starting point for ascents of the Eiger and the Wetterhorn . Nowadays Grindelwald

2940-705: The Jungfraujoch . Besides Grindelwald station, there are eight other railway stations within the municipality of Grindelwald. These are Burglauenen , Grindelwald Terminal , and Schwendi on the BOB; Grindelwald Grund , Brandegg and Alpiglen on the WAB; and Eigerwand and Eismeer on the Jungfraubahn. The Gondelbahn Grindelwald-Männlichen connects Grindelwald with the Männlichen and with onward travel on

3038-602: The Luftseilbahn Wengen-Männlichen offers an alternative route to Wengen . The recently built Eiger Express, connects directly Grindelwald to Eigergletscher , on the Jungfraubahn. Both Männlichen and Eiger Express cable transport start at the Grindelwald Terminal. Both mountain locations of First and Pfingstegg are also accessible by cable transport. In addition, during the summer season, buses run from Grindelwald to Meiringen via

Schilthorn - Misplaced Pages Continue

3136-609: The Schreckhorn (4,078 m [13,379 ft]) and the Gross Fiescherhorn (4,049 m [13,284 ft]) were all climbed during the 19th century, an ascent of the Wetterhorn marking the beginning of the golden age of alpinism . The ascent of the north face of the Eiger, in 1938, was also a milestone in mountaineering history. The Grindelwald road was built in 1860–72, and the Bernese Oberland railway reached

3234-529: The Wengernalpbahn , which run to Wengen , Kleine Scheidegg and on to Grindelwald; at Kleine Scheidegg connection can be made with the Jungfraubahn , which ascends inside the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch . The lower terminal of the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren , a cable car and connecting train, is adjacent to the main station and provides service to Mürren. Besides Lauterbrunnen station, there are nine other railway stations within

3332-457: The canton of Berne . In addition to the village of Grindelwald, the municipality also includes the settlements of Alpiglen, Burglauenen, Grund, Itramen, Mühlebach, Schwendi, Tschingelberg and Wargistal. Grindelwald village is 1,034 m (3,392 ft) above sea level . Mentioned for the first time in 1146, it has become an important tourist destination of both Switzerland and the Alps since

3430-542: The golden age of alpinism in the 19th century. It is overlooked by a section of the Bernese Alps from the Wetterhorn to the Eiger , which creates a natural barrier. Together with the adjacent valley of Lauterbrunnen , the valley of Grindelwald forms part of the Jungfrau Region of the Bernese Oberland , between Interlaken and the main crest of the Bernese Alps. Similarly to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald

3528-418: The primary economic sector and about 55 businesses involved in this sector. 223 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 35 businesses in this sector. 1,538 people were employed in the tertiary sector , with 195 businesses in this sector. There were 1,623 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 43.1% of the workforce. In 2008 there were

3626-415: The 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service , including a car chase in which Bond (played for the only time by George Lazenby ) was driven away from henchmen of Ernst Stavro Blofeld by his girlfriend Tracy di Vicenzo in a dramatic pursuit which culminated in them shaking off the pursuers in a stock car race. The 360 degree revolving restaurant Piz Gloria which crowns the Schilthorn peak

3724-599: The Oberland, they secularized the monastery and annexed all the monastery lands. Lauterbrunnen became the center of a new Reformed parish. Mines were built in the Trachsellauenen area in the upper valley beginning in the late 16th century. An iron smelter was built in Zweilütschinen (now part of Gündlischwand ) in 1715 to process the iron ore from Trachsellauenen. Most of the money from the mines went to

3822-400: The Schilthorn was chosen when the film's producer financed the completion of the famous revolving platform, for the right to use the facility for his next film, the first and only Bond film starring George Lazenby . A number of scenes in the film were photographed by cameraman John Jordan hanging below a speeding helicopter. Jordan had previously lost a foot to a helicopter rotor while filming

3920-731: The Spirits over the Waters") was written while he stayed at the parish house near the Staubbach Falls waterfall in Lauterbrunnen. J. R. R. Tolkien hiked from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley while on a trip to the Continent in 1911. The landscape of the valley later provided the concept and pictorial model for his sketches and watercolours of the fictitious valley of Rivendell , the dwelling place of Elrond Half-elven and his people. Lauterbrunnen featured in several scenes from

4018-504: The Trachsellauenen silver mine, which was active in the medieval to early modern periods, are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance . The village of Gimmelwald and the Kleine Scheidegg region are both part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites . In the 2011 federal election the most popular party was the Swiss People's Party (SVP) which received 29.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were

Schilthorn - Misplaced Pages Continue

4116-414: The border of the municipality. The Kleine Scheidegg and the Grosse Scheidegg , respectively "minor watershed" and "major watershed" are the two main passes of the valley. Grindelwald has an area of 171.33 km (66.15 sq mi). Of this area, 49.47 km (19.10 sq mi) or 28.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.02 km (10.82 sq mi) or 16.4% is forested. Of

4214-541: The bottom of a U-shaped valley that extends south and then south-westwards from the village to meet the 8-kilometer (5.0 mi) Lauterbrunnen Wall . The Lauterbrunnen Valley ( Lauterbrunnental ) is one of the deepest in the Alpine chain when compared with the height of the mountains that rise directly on either side. It is a true cleft, rarely more than one kilometer in width, between limestone precipices, sometimes quite perpendicular and everywhere of extremely steep. In places

4312-401: The built-up area, housing and buildings make up 0.7% and transportation infrastructure make up 0.5%. Of the forested land, 13.6% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 3.5% is pastures and 18.9% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 10.3%

4410-699: The bus to Stechelberg and then the Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn cable car. In Lauterbrunnen about 1,155 or (39.6%) of the population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education , and 230 or (7.9%) have completed additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule ). Of the 230 who completed tertiary schooling, 60.0% were Swiss men, 20.9% were Swiss women, 10.0% were non-Swiss men and 9.1% were non-Swiss women. The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory kindergarten , followed by six years of primary school. This

4508-620: The city of Bern adopted the Protestant Reformation and proceeded to spread the new faith in Grindelwald against the populations' wishes. Berne was able to impose its will, converted the village and secularized Interlaken Abbey and the Abbey's lands. Grindelwald became part of the bailiwick of Interlaken, under a Bernese bailiff . The first village church was a wooden building from the mid-12th century. The wooden building

4606-446: The cliff walls are up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high. It is to this form that the valley owes the numerous waterfalls from which it derives its name. The streams descending from the adjoining mountains and, on reaching the verge of the rocky walls of the valley, form cascades so high that they are almost lost in spray before they reach the level of the valley. The most famous of these is Staubbach Falls , less than one kilometer from

4704-418: The climbers stayed in the village rectory . However, as Lauterbrunnen's fame grew and with the completion of a road from Interlaken in 1834 and the 1890 Bernese Oberland Railway , more hotels were needed for tourists. As new hotels were built, other tourist infrastructure was also built in the village. Cable cars were built to Mürren in 1891 and to Wengen in 1893. But the most significant piece of infrastructure

4802-547: The east, whilst the Sefinenfurgge Pass crosses to Griesalp and Reichenbach im Kandertal to the west. Both passes carry hiking trails that form part of the Alpine Pass Route , a long-distance hiking trail across Switzerland between Sargans and Montreux . Besides the village of Lauterbrunnen, the municipality also includes the villages of Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg, and Isenfluh. Of

4900-482: The following century, the monastery and other local lords began to expand their power in the Lauterbrunnen and neighboring valleys. However, around 1300, the Lord of Turn began to settle his Walser -speaking people in the nearby Lötschen Valley and into the highlands of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. By 1346, the Walser villages of Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Mürren, Sichellauenen and Trachsellauenen all had village governments and

4998-764: The largest amateur alpine ski race in the world. During the summer, the Inferno Triathlon finishes at the summit after a run up from the Lauterbrunnen valley. Lauterbrunnen Lauterbrunnen is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland . The municipality comprises the other villages of Wengen , Mürren , Gimmelwald , Stechelberg , and Isenfluh , as well as several other hamlets. The population of

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5096-614: The late 12th century, the barons of the alpine valleys in what became the Berner Oberland went to war against the expansionist Duke Berthold V of Zähringen . The Duke defeated a coalition of nobles in the Grindlewald valley in 1191. His victory allowed him to expand Zähringen power into the Oberland, to expand the city of Thun and found the city of Bern . Beginning in the 13th century, Interlaken Monastery began to purchase rights and land in Grindelwald and eventually forced

5194-410: The late 18th century as foreigners discovered the scenic town. Pictures of the vistas were widely reprinted, quickly making the village internationally famous. In the 19th century many Englishmen came to the village to climb the alpine peaks around the valley. The Finsteraarhorn (4,274 m [14,022 ft]), the Wetterhorn (3,692 m [12,113 ft]), the Eiger (3,967 m [13,015 ft]),

5292-467: The local nobles out of the valley. The Monastery continued to exert influence in the village and in 1315 and again in 1332 ordered the villagers to raid Unterwalden to further the political ambitions of the Abbot's patrons. In response to the raids, in 1342, Unterwalden attacked Grindelwald. A few years later, in 1348–49, the villagers joined in an unsuccessful rebellion against ecclesiastical power. In 1528,

5390-410: The lower secondary, students may attend additional schooling, or they may enter an apprenticeship . During the 2010–11 school year, there were a total of 341 students attending classes in Grindelwald. There were three kindergarten classes with a total of 55 students in the municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 27.3% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 20.0% had

5488-410: The most days of precipitation was June, with an average of 14.1, but with only 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year was October with an average of 78 mm (3.1 in) of precipitation over 9.5 days. Lauterbrunnen railway station , in the centre of Lauterbrunnen village, is served by trains of the Berner Oberland Bahn , which run to Interlaken , and by trains of

5586-420: The municipal area, 36.79 km (14.20 sq mi) or 22.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.84 km (11.14 sq mi) or 17.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2.31 km (0.89 sq mi) or 1.4% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.08 km (0.42 sq mi) or 0.7% is either rivers or lakes and 95.39 km (36.83 sq mi) or 58.0% is unproductive land. Of

5684-481: The municipality and 265 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 1.6 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. Of the working population, 9.2% used public transportation to get to work, and 36.2% used a private car. From the 2000 census , 690 or 17.0% were Catholic , while 2,874 or 70.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church . Of the rest of

5782-653: The municipality is dominated by the large tourist center of Grindelwald, slightly above the Black Lütschine , the main river of the valley, the latter converging with the White Lütschine. The village is surrounded by the mountains of the Faulhorn , Schwarzhorn , Wellhorn , Wetterhorn , Mettenberg , Schreckhorn , Lauteraarhorn , Agassizhorn , Fiescherhorn , Mönch (the highest), Eiger , Lauberhorn and Männlichen , all of which are either within or on

5880-631: The municipality of Lauterbrunnen. These are Wengwald , Wengen , Allmend , Wengernalp and Kleine Scheidegg on the Wengernalpbahn, Eigergletscher on the Jungfraubahn, and Grütschalp , Winteregg and Mürren on the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren. Post bus services link Lauterbrunnen village to Stechelberg and the Trümmelbach Falls , and to Isenfluh. An alternative route to Mürren is available using

5978-450: The municipality. In 2014 the crime rate in Lauterbrunnen was 49.2 per thousand residents. During the same period, the rate of drug crimes was 0 per thousand residents. The rate of violations of immigration, visa, and work permit laws was 6.6 per thousand residents. This rate is three times the rate in the district, as well as twice the rate in the canton. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 's poem " Gesang der Geister über den Wassern " ("Song of

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6076-428: The municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 16.7% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 16.7% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The municipality had 8 primary classes and 125 students. Of the primary students, 19.2% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 20.8% have a different mother language than the classroom language. During

6174-404: The neighboring mountains through windows built into the mountainside. In 1909, the English brothers Walter and Arnold Lunn popularized skiing, curling and bobsledding at Lauterbrunnen. These winter sports provided a whole new group of winter tourists and converted the summer tourist industry into a year-round business. The tourist economy of Lauterbrunnen was devastated by World War I and II and

6272-479: The newly created Verwaltungskreis Interlaken-Oberhasli. In May 2024, it was reported the local authority had initiated a working group to explore solutions for over-tourism, drawing inspiration from Venice's trial entry fee for day trippers. One proposed measure is the introduction of a 5 to 10 Swiss franc entry fee, applicable to visitors arriving by car for the day, excluding those with pre-booked accommodations or arriving by public transport. Lauterbrunnen lies at

6370-529: The noble landowners, and the villagers remained poor. In the 17th and 18th centuries the poverty was so widespread that many of the villagers joined mercenary regiments or emigrated. Many emigrants moved to the Carolinas in the United States. Beginning in the late 18th century, foreign mountain climbers began to use Lauterbrunnen as a starting point for their expeditions into the nearby Alps. Initially

6468-432: The period from 2000 to 2010, the population changed at a rate of −1.3%. Migration accounted for 0.2%, while births and deaths accounted for −1.7%. Most of the population (as of 2000 ) spoke German (3,531 or 86.8%) as their first language, Portuguese is the second most common (183 or 4.5%) and French was the third (69 or 1.7%). There were 60 people who speak Italian and four people who spoke Romansh . As of 2008 ,

6566-521: The population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has shrunk by 8.9%. Migration accounted for 6.5 percentage points of the decrease, while births and deaths accounted for 3.1. Most of the population speaks German as their first language (as of 2000 , 2,483 or 85.2%). Portuguese is the second most common (143 or 4.9%) and Croatian is the third (59 or 2.0%). There are 42 people who speak French , 40 who speak Italian and 5 who speak Romansh . As of 2008 ,

6664-632: The population was 49.7% male and 50.3% female. The population was made up of 970 Swiss men (37.9% of the population) and 301 (11.8%) non-Swiss men. There were 1,011 Swiss women (39.5%) and 276 (10.8%) non-Swiss women. Of the population in the municipality, 1,221 or about 41.9% were born in Lauterbrunnen and lived there in 2000. There were 592 or 20.3% who were born in the same canton, while 386 or 13.2% were born somewhere else in Switzerland and 544 or 18.7% were born outside of Switzerland. As of 2010 , children and teenagers (0–19 years old) made up 17.2% of

6762-571: The population was 50.1% male and 49.9% female. The population was made up of 1,556 Swiss men (40.9% of the population) and 354 (9.3%) non-Swiss men. There were 1,568 Swiss women (41.2%) and 331 (8.7%) non-Swiss women. Of the population in the municipality, 1,846 or about 45.4% were born in Grindelwald and lived there in 2000. There were 847 or 20.8% who were born in the same canton, while 510 or 12.5% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 679 or 16.7% were born outside of Switzerland. As of 2010 , children and teenagers (0–19 years old) made up 17.5% of

6860-464: The population) belonged to no church, were agnostic or atheist , and 227 individuals (or about 5.58% of the population) did not answer the question. Between 1981 and 2010, Grindelwald had an average of 145.4 days of rain or snow per year and on average received 1,450 mm (57 in) of precipitation . The wettest month was August during which time Grindelwald received an average of 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain or snow. During this month there

6958-421: The population) did not answer the question. Between 1981 and 2010 Lauterbrunnen had an average of 136.5 days of rain or snow per year and on average received 1,207 mm (47.5 in) of precipitation . The wettest month was July during which time Lauterbrunnen received an average of 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain or snow. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 13.8 days. The month with

7056-451: The population), and there were 47 individuals (or about 1.61% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There was 1 individual who was Jewish , and 28 (or about 0.96% of the population) who were Muslim . There were 3 individuals who were Buddhist and 2 individuals who belonged to another church. 144 (or about 4.94% of the population) belonged to no church, were agnostic or atheist , and 187 individuals (or about 6.42% of

7154-637: The population, there were 31 members of an Orthodox church (or about 0.76% of the population), there were two individuals (or about 0.05% of the population) who belonged to the Christian Catholic Church , and there were 105 individuals (or about 2.58% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There was one individual who was Jewish , and 32 (or about 0.79% of the population) who were Muslim . There were 14 individuals who were Buddhist and one individual who belonged to another church. One hundred forty-four (or about 3.54% of

7252-429: The population, while adults (20–64 years old) made up 62.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) made up 20.2%. As of 2000 , there were 1,195 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 1,420 married individuals, 208 widows or widowers and 91 individuals who were divorced. As of 2000 , there were 453 households that consist of only one person and 61 households with five or more people. In 2000 ,

7350-430: The population, while adults (20–64 years old) made up 62.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20%. As of 2000 , there were 1,750 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 1,971 married individuals, 221 widows or widowers and 127 individuals who were divorced. As of 2000 , there were 679 households that consisted of only one person and 82 households with five or more people. In 2000 ,

7448-399: The previous Bond movie You Only Live Twice . Within a year and fitted with a prosthetic limb, Jordan lost his footing and fell 600 metres (2,000 ft) to his death when filming similar aerial imagery used in the film Catch-22 . During the winter, the Schilthorn is the traditional start for the world's longest downhill ski race, the "Inferno," which started 96 years ago in 1928. It is

7546-538: The pursuit of adventure in the valley. BASE jumping is legal in Switzerland. In Lauterbrunnen, authorities require BASE jumpers to purchase a landing card from the Swiss BASE Association, although unlike skydiving, no license is required. From the 2000 census , 513 or 17.6% were Roman Catholic , while 1,973 or 67.7% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church . Of the rest of the population, there were 34 members of an Orthodox church (or about 1.17% of

7644-423: The repair of motor vehicles, 231 or 17.5% were in the movement and storage of goods, 687 or 52.0% were in a hotel or restaurant, 75 or 5.7% were in education and 56 or 4.2% were in health care. In 2000 , there were 360 workers who commuted into the municipality and 252 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 1.4 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. Of

7742-408: The rest of the land, 3.06 km (1.18 sq mi) or 1.8% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.37 km (0.53 sq mi) or 0.8% is either rivers or lakes, and 89.21 km (34.44 sq mi) or 52.1% is unproductive land. Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 1.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.6%. Out of the forested land, 12.9% of the total land area

7840-442: The same year, there were 3 lower secondary classes with a total of 65 students. There were 10.8% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 10.8% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The remainder of the students attend a private or special school. As of 2000 , there were 5 students in Lauterbrunnen who came from another municipality, while 45 residents attended schools outside

7938-655: The second. Grindelwald was first mentioned in 1146 as Grindelwalt . This designation is probably derived from the Old High German words "grintil" (bar, barrier) and "walt" (forest), thus describing the nature of the valley. According to a legend, the name Grindelwald comes from two monks of the Interlaken Monastery . After exploring the Lütschinen valleys, they are said to have reported about "Grinden" and "Wald", i.e. "stones" and "forests". This

8036-574: The summit of the Mönch (4,110 metres), huge differences in average temperature are naturally found. The Montane zone and the Subalpine zone extend from the bottom of the valley to the tree line , at approx. 2,000 metres. There, coniferous trees and snowfall progressively replace deciduous tree and rainfall. Above that is the Alpine zone , consisting of Alpine tundra. The last region, above 3,000 metres,

8134-466: The summit, Piz Gloria , was featured in the 1969 James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service . A black ski run featured in the film starts at the summit and leads down to the Engetal below Birg. The restaurant revolves a full 360 degrees in 45 minutes, slightly faster than the minute hand of a clock. After considering a number of locations, the stalled construction of the sports bar atop

8232-463: The tertiary sector was 1,735. In the tertiary sector; 241 or 13.9% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 193 or 11.1% were in the movement and storage of goods, 1,022 or 58.9% were in a hotel or restaurant, 27 or 1.6% were the insurance or financial industry, 45 or 2.6% were technical professionals or scientists, 46 or 2.7% were in education and 58 or 3.3% were in health care. In 2000 , there were 432 workers who commuted into

8330-442: The town had an alternate spelling of Luterbrunnen by 1268. While the meaning of brunnen is undoubtedly spring or fountain, there is some dispute about the meaning of lauter . Some translate it as clear, clean or bright (which compares to the earlier Romance language meaning of the place mentioned above), while others translate it as "many" or "louder". A local explanation is that the name Lauterbrunnen means "many springs", using

8428-405: The upper Lauterbrunnen Valley with Untersteinberg. The valley includes several glaciers. Together with the adjacent valley of Grindelwald , the Lauterbrunnen Valley forms part of the Jungfrau Region of the Bernese Oberland , between Interlaken and the main crest of the Bernese Alps. Similarly to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen has become a major tourist destination. It is connected to Interlaken by

8526-496: The village in 1890, both of which transformed an arduous journey into a simple trip and allowed tourists to flood into the village. In 1888, Grindelwald was the first resort in the Bernese Oberland to also become a winter destination, attractions being sleigh rides, curling, skating and, from 1891, skiing. The first resort opened in 1888, there were 10 hotels in 1889, and by 1914 there were 33 in Grindelwald. A rack railway

8624-651: The village of Lauterbrunnen is less than that of Wengen, but larger than that of the others. The municipality comprises the Lauterbrunnen Valley ( German : Lauterbrunnental ), located at the foot of the Bernese Alps . It is notably overlooked by the Eiger , Mönch , Jungfrau and many other high peaks. The valley, drained by the White Lütschine , comprises the Soustal, the Sefinental and

8722-542: The village of Lauterbrunnen. The 297 m (974 ft) high Staubbach is the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland. Also near Lauterbrunnen is the highest waterfall in Switzerland, the 417 m (1,368 ft) Mürrenbach Fall. Finally, the Mattenbachfall (cascade waterfall) with a height of 930 meters is Europe's highest waterfall and the third highest in the world. The Weisse Lütschine river flows through Lauterbrunnen and overflows its banks about once

8820-410: The villagers in Lauterbrunnen built a filial church of the parish. In 1506, the parish appointed a full-time priest for Lauterbrunnen. In 1528, the city of Bern adopted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation and began imposing it on the Bernese Oberland . Lauterbrunnen joined many other villages and the monastery in an unsuccessful rebellion against the new faith. After Bern imposed its will on

8918-400: The workforce. In 2008 there were a total of 2,265 full-time equivalent jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 165, of which 159 were in agriculture and seven were in forestry or lumber production. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 365 of which 42 or (11.5%) were in manufacturing, six or (1.6%) were in mining and 292 (80.0%) were in construction. The number of jobs in

9016-455: The working population, 12.5% used public transportation to get to work, and 12.3% used a private car. Lauterbrunnen is a touristic destination. It is especially known for being the mecca of wingsuit base jumping. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is renowned as a prime location for wingsuit BASE jumping, attracting enthusiasts from around the globe. This narrow valley is surrounded by steep rock faces and features 13 legal jump points. Many consider it

9114-499: Was built to Kleine Scheidegg in 1893, and it was expanded to the Jungfraujoch in 1912. Numerous ski lifts, cable cars, hiking trails and alpine huts were built in the late 19th and 20th centuries to allow tourists to explore the mountains, notably the Wetterhorn Elevator , one of the first modern aerial tramways. Today, almost the entire economy of Grindelwald is based on tourism. The V-cableway , inaugurated in 2020,

9212-563: Was initially the explanation for the origin of the name. The oldest traces of a settlement in the area are scattered neolithic tools which have been discovered around Grindelwald village. Several Roman era coins have also been found in the municipality. A castle was built on the Burgbühl hill above the village during the High Middle Ages . In 1146, King Conrad III granted estates in Grindelwald to Interlaken Monastery. In

9310-402: Was precipitation for an average of 14.4 days. The month with the most days of precipitation was June, with an average of 14.8, but with only 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year was February with an average of 89 mm (3.5 in) of precipitation over 9.7 days. As the municipality territory stretches from Lütschental (approx. 730 metres above sea level) to

9408-451: Was replaced with the stone St. Mary's Church in 1180. This church was replaced in the 16th century, and the present church was built in 1793. On August 18, 1892, a large part of the village was destroyed by a fire. That day, which followed a drought period, a violent foehn storm was raging. Within two hours, 116 buildings in the Grindelwald valley were destroyed and 412 residents became homeless. The tourism industry began in Grindelwald in

9506-400: Was the Jungfrau railway , which was built in 1912. The Jungfrau rack railway runs 9 km ( 5 + 1 ⁄ 2  mi) from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch . The railway runs almost entirely within a tunnel built into the Eiger and Mönch mountains and contains two stations in the middle of the tunnel where passengers can disembark to observe

9604-489: Was used to film Blofeld's hideout. In the movie Bond escapes from it by skiing down the mountain to reach the village of Mürren at its base. The location features in the Forza Motorsport series of games, with a fictional track by the name of 'Bernese Alps' incorporated into the mountainside. Grindelwald Grindelwald is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in

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