Lauterbrunnen, Alpine village in Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen sits at the bottom of a deep valley in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland, surrounded by vertical limestone walls. Numerous waterfalls tumble down from the slopes and form a network of white streaks along the mountains.
Written mentions reach back to the 13th century when the valley was named for its springs. Mining later gained importance and brought workers to the higher areas above the village.
In narrow streets between old wooden houses hikers and locals meet in front of small shops and cafés. Daily life plays out quietly while visitors often pass through only as a starting point for mountain trips.
From the train station paths lead to nearby waterfalls and to cable cars toward mountain villages like Mürren and Wengen. Solid footwear helps on wet trails where spray from the falls can make the ground slippery.
In quiet morning hours you can hear the low sound of falling water across the entire valley floor. Some falls drop so high that wind swirls the spray back upward before it reaches the ground.
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