Scenes from Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken, Switzerland
Recently I spent a couple of days in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and nearby Interlaken. I was visiting my friend Gigi (and her adorable dog Luna) for a fun girls weekend and, as a bonus, I got to see a little more of Switzerland. I could never live in these small towns – sometimes Freiburg feels too small for me – but I certainly don’t mind visiting now and then to relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
Lauterbrunnen is a small town in a valley where lots of people come to go hiking and camping, as well as to participate in extreme sports like base jumping and paragliding. It’s in the Jungfrau region, home to the three tallest mountains in the Bernese Oberland: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. From Lauterbrunnen, you can easily see the peak of Jungfrau. Well, you can easily see it when the clouds are cooperating! Here’s the view from Gigi’s apartment, with Jungfrau in the back covered in snow.
We spent some time wandering around town so I could see the sights. There aren’t really a lot of sights, but it’s more about quality than quantity here anyway. The high mountains have several waterfalls streaming down the rocks, and it’s hard to go anywhere without hearing the nearby river.
We also spent some time in Interlaken, just 20 minutes from Lauterbrunnen by train. After our jet boating experience, we walked along the lakes back to the city center, had lunch, and sat on a bench admiring the view for awhile. I probably could’ve hung out a bit longer, but the rain was coming in. It hasn’t been the most summer-like weather in this part of the world this summer.
I still really love the fact that I can be in another country in under an hour. Switzerland is beautiful, and I’m happy to have a wonderful reason to go down there more often now. Now I understand what all the fuss is about when people talk about Interlaken and this whole gorgeous region, and I can see why Gigi loves living there so much.
September 29, 2014 @ 9:51 AM
Photos came out great! Soo glad you came down. 🙂
October 1, 2014 @ 9:24 AM
Thanks Gigi! I’m really glad I came down for a visit too! Hope to see you again soon!
October 1, 2014 @ 3:27 AM
Wow! I have to admit—I’ve never actually been interested in visiting Switzerland, but your photos almost have me convinced that I need to revisit my stance on that. I had heard it was beautiful but… just wow!
October 1, 2014 @ 9:25 AM
Switzerland is *expensive* which turns off a lot of travelers, but it is so incredibly gorgeous! It’s well worth a visit someday.
October 6, 2014 @ 8:20 AM
Absolutely stunning photos and a stunning region to be living in. Australia has nothing like it that I can think of and if we did all the hipsters and yuppies would have moved there by now destroying the place.
After living in Melbourne and then Sydney most of my life before moving to a town of 15,000 people three and a half years ago, I would hate to go back. I love having everything within walking distance from my flat. And for those things like GP and Specialist medical appointments, I train it to Melbourne but the train station itself is within walking distance too. But I can understand why some people would think the town is too small for them. There is a lack of amenity here compared to a major city however I think it’s offset by the relaxed and friendly attitude that most people in town display to one another. It’s common that one person with a lot of groceries will allow somebody with only a few to go in front of them. That’s totally unheard of in Melbourne and Sydney where people routinely fight over such petty things.
October 6, 2014 @ 3:35 PM
Thanks Matthew! Yep, there definitely are advantages to living in a small place, but I’m definitely a city person. Even Freiburg, at 230,000 people, feels too small to me sometimes. I’m glad you’re able to get around so easily where you live.
October 10, 2014 @ 6:53 PM
That valley is amazing. I have been through, but never stopped, at least I don’t think I did. Obviously, need to next time, at the very least to get up close to the waterfall.
October 11, 2014 @ 10:36 AM
Scott, it really is gorgeous. It’s only 20 minutes from Interlaken, so if you’re ever back that way, it’s definitely worth a visit.
October 14, 2014 @ 1:16 AM
That second photo is amazing. The people from that town must be the luckiest with such gorgeous views, I mean, look at how close the waterfall is! Love it!
October 15, 2014 @ 9:29 PM
Thanks Fabiana!