Gimmelwald, Car-free mountain village in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland.
Gimmelwald is a car-free mountain village at about 4,450 feet elevation with traditional wooden chalets perched on a cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, looking out toward surrounding peaks. The settlement spreads across scattered farmhouses, green meadows, and sweeping views down into the valley below.
The village began as a farming community in the Alps and gained attention in the 1800s when visitors sought mountain air and traditional Alpine life. This early tourism period shaped the settlement into a place where nature and rural heritage remain connected today.
The village is shaped by its farming way of life, where residents tend livestock on steep pastures and keep alive the traditions of Alpine living. Walking through, you see this heritage everywhere, from the well-kept meadows to the farmhouses that define the village.
The village is only accessible by cable car from Lauterbrunnen or Stechelberg, as vehicles are not permitted. Most visitors plan time for the journey and use the quiet setting for hiking or resting in the guesthouses.
The settlement has more water troughs for cattle than mailboxes, showing how livestock care dominates daily life here. This imbalance reveals that farming still matters more than modern communication systems in this place.
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