The mountains are calling

The Swiss Federal Railways makes it easy for visitors to travel anywhere in Switzerland with its vast and efficient coverage of the country. Even the remotest villages in the mountains can be accessed through a network of trains and cableways. So it was an easy decision to combine my trip to Lauterbrunnen with Wengen and it turned out to be a good decision.

It was warm and sunny in November when I captured this view of the Jungfrau (above).

Wengen sits at the foot of the Jungfrau mountain range, 1,274 meters (4,180 ft.) above sea level. It is a quiet, car-free village with less than a couple thousand residents. This count balloons to 10,000 or so during the ski season when the alpine village hosts the annual International Luberhorn Downhill Ski Race. Wengen is the gateway to the Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe at 11,333 ft.

A cable car dangles above the valley on its way to Männlichen where spectacular views of the Eiger and Mönch await. The Eiger is famous for its treacherous North Face which has claimed the lives of many climbers.

At Wengen, you feel that much closer to the snow-capped peaks surrounding the village. There is beauty of nature to behold, clear mountain air to breathe and an indulgent sense of tranquility that beckons a return visit, perhaps a longer one.

"Keep close to Nature's heart.....and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." John Muir

The view from the Protestant church of the valley below and the peaks of the Jungfrau mountain range is staggering.

A cog railway ascends to Wengen from Lauterbrunnen taking 15 minutes through stunning countryside where every turn revealed waterfalls flowing down lofty peaks, green valleys and the gold foliage of autumn.

How to get there:

Take the train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen where you transfer to the Wengernalp railway. The Lauterbrunnen train station is small and there are frequent train services to Wengen from there. Go to www.sbb.ch for schedules and fares.

Check out my article about Lauterbrunnen here:

https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2018/12/the-rocky-wall-of-lauterbrunnen.html

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

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