Last summer, I had the opportunity to spend two days in Lauterbrunnen valley. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we all have different ways of perceiving beauty. In my eyes, it was hands down the most beautiful place I’d ever been to.
Snow-capped mountains, stunning green meadows, and waterfalls – Lauterbrunnen valley is, in a word, incredible. It reminded me of Yosemite valley (the topic of another post) – except larger and – against all odds – prettier. Below are a couple of photos clicked on an iPhone.
The name “Lauterbrunnen” translates to “loud springs.” The valley has 72 waterfalls. The most stunning of these – in my opinion – is the Trummelbach falls. These falls are on the inside of the mountain and their power is awe-inspiring.
These falls are made possible by melting glaciers from the tallest Alps – Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch. At a time when the warming climate is reducing the glacier coverage on this planet, places like this remind us of the importance of finding ways to stop and, hopefully in time, reverse the impacts of climate change.
Both sides of the valley have picturesque car-free villages. I loved the idea of car-free villages. We need more of those.
And, a fun fact, this valley was the inspiration for “Rivendell” in the Lord of the Rings saga.
I hope to return.
