Hi! Can someone out there tell me how viable it is to drive from lauterbrunnen to stechelberg to get the cable car to Murren? We are doing a driving holiday in switzerland next month. On the map I see a road marked from laute to stechlberg. How easy is this drive? And are private vehicles allowed? And where would I park in Stechlberg? Is it a big village? Can anyone help, please?

Tara,<BR><BR>You have 2 options with a car: either park in Lauterbrunnen, and take the funicular & train to Muerren or indeed park in Stechelberg and take the cable car.<BR><BR>I've never taken the cable car (always stay in Wengen and go to M&uuml;rren/Schilthorn for the day via Lauterbrunnen), so can't judge if it's a better option - but it does sound more convenient with luggage. Anyway, the road is fine and there are 1500 parking spaces at Stechelberg, so I wouldn't worry about that... More info at:<BR><BR>http://www.schilthorn.ch/index_e.kis<BR><BR>Click on "getting there"<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

Hi Andre!<BR> Thanks a lot - that's exactly what I needed to hear!

You drive to the parking lot, take a parking ticket, park your car, walk to the lift station. Buy your ticket, get on and ride up.<BR>The road is narrow and it makes a sharp bend by the church in Lauterbrunnen before becomeing fairly straight when it goes by the entrance to Trummelbach Falls. <BR>The entrance to the lift station is on your right before you reach the end of the road.<BR>Its no big deal.<BR>Just make sure you turn left and follow the curve across the Weisse L&uuml;tschine.<BR>If you go straight rather than turning to go past the church, you will be on a very narrow road that does not connect as I recall. The other road is the main valley road.<BR><BR>Last time I took the bus from Lauterbrunnen to the lift station and came back via Grutschalp.<BR>We were staying in Lauterbrunnen and the bus ride was free with our pass.<BR>

Thanks Bob! I've written down your directions to take with me!

Let me throw in a few more details in hopes they will help. The road to Stechelberg is the same one you take from the Interlaken bypass to reach Wilderswil, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen. Once you pass Wilderswil<BR>the road runs along the river in some tight sections. Be cautious going through Wilderswil particularly near the train station because people come running across the road just like they would in the USA, only with more confidence that the traffic will not run them over.<BR>As you approach Zweil&uuml;tschinen, keep straight. The left turn takes you to Grindelwald; you want Lauterbrunnen.<BR>About the only other chance for a turn before Lauterbrunnen is the junction with the road leading up to Isenfluh. You don't want that one; it makes the final run through a one lane tunnel that curves. <BR>As you approach Lauterbrunnen, you will pass by a rifle range on the right. if you hear the sound of gunfire, don't be alarmed; it is only the local militia and others practicing. The 2000 National Rifle Champion was a Lauterbrunnen resident. Nearing the town limits of Lauterbrunnen, the road bears sharply right as it approaches the train station. Continue through Lauterbrunnen on the narrow main street. Often cars are parked along the sides of the narrow, often crowded street. <BR><BR>After you pass the Hotel Jungfrau, and approach the Hotel Staubbach, you can see Staubbach Falls off to your right.<BR>(If you wish, take the short drive to the Falls. There is a short walk that leads under the falls. At night, spotlights illuminate the falls making them very pretty.) Just before the church on your left is where the road swings left in an S curve and crosses the creek as it swings back to the right.<BR>Continue south, "taleinwarts" as the Germans say, toward Trummelbach Falls and the lift station. The German term means you head farther into the depths of the valley. The Luftseilbahn valley station will be most obvious on your right because there are two sets of cables leading up the mountain. One is for the freight car; the other set is for the passenger car. The parking lot for the lift station is located a short distance before the road circles at its end in "downtown" Stechelberg, which is really a very, very small village. You park most anywhere in the lot, which charges a daily and hourly fee.<BR>(I rarely find free parking lots in Switzerland. The Swiss milk three things very well: cows, goats, and tourists.)<BR>At the lift station, buy your transit tickets at the down stairs booth. I recall that Visa is acceptable, or you can pay in Swiss francs. I don't know if the ticket agent will accept euros or not; I doubt it because euros are not the local currency. Then, ticket in hand, walk up the steps to your right to the waiting area. <BR><BR>The cable car rises first to Gimmelwald, where it makes a sharp turn to the right. (As I recall you change cars at this point.) Leaving Stechelberg, stand, if possible, so that you are on the left of the car, facing up the line. Shortly after the car rises above the trees, the Jungfrau suddenly comes into view. That first glimpse of the Jungfrau at a much closer distance is dramatic. <BR> <BR>We rode up last time with this beautiful, highly alert, well mannered male Bernese Mountain Dog.<BR>He let his owner know he wanted to look out the window. She asked several people if the dog could get closer to an outside view on the Jungfrau side.<BR>The dog sat down very politely where he could see out through the clear plastic window. <BR>Whens the snow capped peaks came into view, he began quivering with excitement as he voiced those little high pitched yelps of pleasure that dog lovers know so well. I am sure he was saying to all of us "Those are my mountains."<BR><BR>