Melissa5

How did you view the Lauterbrunnen area in Switzerland, and during what season did you travel? I am picturing a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains, with lovely waterfalls, on a beautiful day of early summer.

I wasn't picturing a valley in shadows...until I noticed a few people described it as being in the shadows of the high cliffs...one person perceived it as depressing. A few people perceived it as claustrophobic...while others found it beautiful.

I'm considering spending 4 nights in Lauterbrunnen, and 3 or 4 nights in Murren. (I know they are close together, but I think they offer different experiences.)

Please share your reaction to Lauterbrunnen. I'm happy to hear your subjective reactions. I find it helps to hear from others with many different viewpoints.

I have felt claustrophobic if I'm in a small enclosed space like an elevator...but I don't usually feel claustrophobic in the outdoors...not when I can see the sky. I do enjoy sunny places, but naturally understand mountains and cliffs will cause some shadows. We will be in Switzerland in late June, early July...hopefully we will get lots of sunshine!

swandav2000

Hi MelissaS,

Yes, lots of folks have split up their trips to the Oberland as you describe, so if you want the total experience each village has to offer, that would be one way to do it!

I would only suggest that you find some photos of Lauterbrunnen to help you see it -- try www.webshots.com or simply google images. Just do a search for "Lauterbrunnen Switzerland" and you should get enough shots to form an opinion.

Have fun!

s

zeppole

I walked in the sunshine across most of the Lauterbrunnen valley floor in the first week of September during the afternoon. I loved the grandeur above and the pastoral feeling at ground level, with the streams and falls. It felt protective to me, and fertile.

I found the static, granite peaks of Murren rather monotonous after two days. They are quite imposing, maybe even a bit sterile in feeling. In fact, I left early and went down to the pretty lakeside town of Spiez, which I enjoyed a great deal.

I guess the landscape is a kind of Rorschach test! I think the suggestion to look at photos is a good one.

ShutterbugBill

Here is a link to two day trips we made in the Spring of 2004. First to the Valley of the Waterfalls and then Murren. There is narrative included with the slideshow.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...localeid=en_US

Clousie

Bill~ What a wonderful slideshow with comments. It would be great if more folks could create Trip Reports like this to share with others, but I realize this isn't something everyone likes to do. It makes your report that much more appreciated.

Having done the same trip several times during the summer, it was interesting to see it at another time of year. I think this should help Melissa decide on whether she wants to visit. Personally, I prefer to look down into a valley, but others may like something different.

ira

Hi M,

We were in Lauterbrunnen in early Sept. Bright and sunny.

FACS

We were there in late June early July 4 years ago. Our lodging had a good view of the falls, I liked it but my husband felt closed in and we only stayed 2 of the planned 4 nights. We had lunch at a restaurant in Murren, it was gorgeous and I wish we had stayed in Murren. We had been drinking lots of water on the trip so I ordered lemonade but got a Fanta(orange soda) with ice. It tasted incredibly good and normally I don't drink sodas. The jackhammer in the background didn't even ruin this beautiful moment.

annalynn

I just had to echo Clousie's kudos to Bill - this is a fabulous slideshow, extremely informative and detailed, and truly helpful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

I am totally stealing your idea of photographing the menus - genius! I also wake a photo of the food itself, and the restuarant, but this is a better idea.

ThinGorjus

Thank you for the lovely slide show presentation, shutterbugbill. It was very helpful to me as I am planning my trip to Switerland in August.

Thin

Byrd

shutterbugbill,

Let me add my thanks to you for the wonderful slideshow.

We will be in Lauterbrunnen in April, and it is so nice to see what the countryside will look like at that time of the year.

I also like the idea of photographing the menus, as well as the plates.

Byrd

Dayenu

Sunny, bright, spaced out - end of May.

glaciermeadows

I have been to Lauterbrunnen about 10 times in every season but spring. It is even more dramatic then any photo can capture. I do not see how anyone can find it claustrauphobic. Most of the day it is sunny. In the morning the sun hits the valley after it rises above the peaks. Views are looking up at the peaks and waterfalls as oppose to looking across from Wengen and Murren. Just a different perspective from the valley floor.

Ingo

Sunny in the morning, shadowy and rather dark in the afternoon. I didn't like the views from Lauterbrunnen very much; the mountains tower up too dramatically, too close right behind your neck.

I didn't care for the views from Mürren as much as for those from Wengen. The latter probably has the loveliest views with green meadows in the foreground and the dramatic peaks/glaciers in the distance. Granted, Männlichen ridge towers up above Wengen as well, but as it is half way up (almost, at least) I didn't feel as trapped as in Lauterbrunnen.

grace44

We have stayed in Lauterbrunnen at the Chalet Horner twice. We liked Lauterbrunnen so much the first time we went back. We were there in September both times. It was bright and sunny during the day, but because of the mountains the shadows start early in the evening. I didn't consider it claustrophobic, as Lauterbrunnen and beyond to Trummelbach Falls is a long way. We choose to take the bus to the falls from downtown, because we wanted to walk from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, in the afternoon. It is far enough that walking would have taken too long. We could see way into the valley from our balcony. After sightseeing each day we would sit there with our drinks and watch the hang gliders come from way up on the cliffs glide down to the valley floor. Nothing depressing about that, a highlight of the trip. The transportation system between the small villages is excellent. Almost part of the vacation experience, especially the gondolas. I think by breaking up your nights into two villages would just waste time, you could be doing something else, instead of transfering to another hotel.

Byrd

grace,

We are staying at Chalet Horner in April.

We are really looking forward to sitting on the balcony with our afternoon drinks too!

Byrd

LLindaC

I liked staying in Wengen as well. The view from our room at the Caprice was spectacular! I liked visiting Murren, but glad we stayed at Wengen- I thought the area surrounding was prettier. But it's pretty much all good there! Have you maybe considered 2 days at Kanderstag overlooking the gorgeous lake?

Melissa5

What wonderful replies! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and viewpoints! I can't wait to see the slideshow above that everyone is talking about. I'm about to have lunch and then back to see that slideshow!

<b>LLindaC:</b> Yes I have wondered about staying in <b>Kandersteg</b> (Melnq8 also recommended it.) But my planning brain has a huge imaginative ability...and I can retain descriptive details...but when it comes to geography and maps, I seem to be brainless! I feel lost when I read about all those lovely little villages in the Lonely Planet book (off the beaten path.) The problem is, I can't easily figure out how to get to those little villages. It seems easier to stay on the main train route, since it is less confusing (Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Interlaken, Geneva, etc.) But if you could tell me how to get to <b>Kandersteg</b> without a car (from Interlaken?)...I am open to that idea!

Kandersteg, where are you? Now, if those cute little villages would just stay put and quit moving around in my brain...this would be a lot easier!

Does anyone else love trip-planning, but feel geographically and spatially challenged? I have been developing a rather dyslexic brain lately...I'm always turning things 180 degrees in the wrong direction. My poor infant grandbaby was actually trying to help me buckle her into the stroller since I had the harness belt turned in the wrong direction and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't buckle!

This problem makes going off the main tourist route challenging to plan. However I am totally open to the delightful thought of going to a less touristed, beautiful village! We love staying in family-owned, friendly places.

LLindaC

Oh, sweetie, you need Google Earth and http://www.sbb.ch/en/

I just found your questions, but I will be happy to try and help. If you'd like email me at this screen name at AOL dot com and I'll send you my trip reports and pictures.

What most people don't realize is how EASY it is to travel about in Switzerland. It's a small country which has the best rail and bus system of any European country. We always get a Swiss Saver Pass and take many side trips by just hopping on a train or bus. You can access an interactive map at that site to see the various routes to areas. We did mostly touristy stuff the first year (Wengen, Lugano, Montreux) and had a good time. However, we took a couple 'side trips" and decided to look further. Our second trip was to the spectacular Engadine valley staying in Guarda and Soglio (the most beautiful place on earth). We also did a walking tour of the Val D'Anniviers. Our third trip (last year) was Val D"Herens, Bettmeralp, Lotschoental, Luzerne. Fabulous. I researched a LOT, asked many questions, went to TripAdvisor and here and researched trip reports. I also befriended Kev Reynolds who writes beautiful guidebooks for the most stunning areas of Europe.

Here's my 2 cents. Bern/Zurich/Geneva are okay, but cities are pretty much all the same (except Paris and a few others, LOL) Geneva is a massive bore. I loved it years ago, but it has no charm and is covered in grafitti. Plus, you have to pay big bucks for a decent hotel with A/C because it's hot as heck at times.

If you get a Swiss pass, it's extremely easy to get from one are to the next. For instance, from the BO, you could go to the serene Lotschoental Valley very easily. Or any place else! There are those beautiful "finger valleys" which run to the south in the Valais region where you will see only hikers and natat that time of year.

Melissa5

<b>Shutterbugbill:</b> I enjoyed the slideshow with commentary, which was very useful! I learned a lot. It is easier now for me to picture what it might be like to be in the Lauterbrunnen valley, as opposed to being up the mountain in the towns of Wengen or Murren. I also noted that the ride up to Murren looks a bit scary for me...I'm a bit nervous about heights. But I'm sure I can handle it...it's worth it to enjoy the mountains. I love mountains! Thanks for sharing. I also noticed from your photos that those waterfalls hidden in the mountain might be a bit claustrophobic for me. That is useful to know as I'll need to be prepared for that...it won't come as a surprise.

Melissa5

<b>Shutterbugbill:</b> I enjoyed the slideshow with commentary, which was very useful! I learned a lot. It is easier now for me to picture what it might be like to be in the Lauterbrunnen valley, as opposed to being up the mountain in the towns of Wengen or Murren. I also noted that the ride up to Murren looks a bit scary for me...I'm a bit nervous about heights. But I'm sure I can handle it...it's worth it to enjoy the mountains. I love mountains! Thanks for sharing. I also noticed from your photos that those waterfalls hidden in the mountain might be a bit claustrophobic for me. That is useful to know as I'll need to be prepared for that...it won't come as a surprise.