2_0_DiscoverGermany_May2014_Issue14:Scan Magazine 1
10/4/14
10:56
Page 64
Above: Fantastic Eiger Mönch panorama. Right: Mürren is a car -free village.
Mürren – a mountain village with traditional flair and breath-taking views Mürren is a well-known destination for winter and summer holidays. Set high in the Swiss Alps, a visit to this village offers you unparalleled views over the valley below and the surrounding mountain range. Amid such spectacular nature, it’s a destination rich in tradition and Alpine charm. TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: MÜRREN TOURISMUS
The car-free village of Mürren can be reached in two remarkable ways: one option is the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and from there the railway to Mürren, or alternatively you can reach the village with the cable car that goes via Stechelberg and Grimmelwald. WhiIe in winter it is the multitude of ski slopes which entice guests, spring and summer are ideal for long hiking tours in the surrounding mountains. Far removed from the stress of everyday life, there are various themed trails which guests can enjoy at their leisure.This makes Mürren an El Dorado for outdoor recreation seekers.
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Found at an altitude of 1,670m, Mürren is a former Walser settlement above the valley of Lauterbrunnen. The Walsers, an Alemannic ethnic group, spread from the Rhone valley to the Valais and the Bernese highlands during the Middle Ages. Mürren was mentioned for the first time in the 14th century and was then part of the Kloster Unterseen. For centuries its meadows and fertile fields were used as cow pastures and for growing crops. As Europeans began to explore the Alps in the 18th century, the first rich English and Russian ladies came to visit Mürren a short while later. They had the honour of being carried up the mountain in a sedan chair. In
1857 the first hotel opened its doors, paving the way for Mürren to become an internationally known tourist destination. Today, Mürren is the highest situated village in the Bernese Highlands that is inhabited all year round, and approximately 350 people live there permanently. 500 hotel beds and 600 additional beds in holiday apartments are most appreciated by visitors, thus the majority of Mürren’s inhabitants work in the tourism industry. Even though Mürren has been a tourist destination for a very long time, it has never lost its unique charm and staying true to tradition remains key. With no modern hotel eyesores, new buildings are built in an authentic style, and - with the exception of a modern sports centre - Mürren has kept its characteristics for centuries. And that certainly appeals to guests. www.muerren.ch