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Interlaken, Switzerland
A great base for skiing the mighty Jungfrau Region.
Located in the German-speaking
heart of Switzerland, Interlaken offers winter sport's fans access to some
of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps, with their base in a service-packed
small city in a spectacular lakeside setting. Traditionally a 'Summer' resort,
Interlaken had long been attractive to winter sports enthusiasts because
of its prime location and the fact that it's excellent hotels and other
facilities offer very low rates during the winter. Its status became 'official'
however with the launch of the The Jungfrau Top Ski Region, containing more
than 160 Km (100 miles) of trails in ski centers above Grindelwald, all
linked to Interlaken by a mountain railway included in a ski pass. The average
length of runs in the area is a remarkable six - 12 kilometers (four - nine
miles). With the pass, it's possible to ski a different ski area every day
for a week.
The name 'Interlaken'
actually means "between the lakes" - Lake Thun and Lake Brienz to be precise
and water is omnipresent throughout the area with idyllic clear mountain
streams and waterfalls running off the hills and into the lakes. The resort
offers dozens of water-based activities, throughout the year. If you ever
got bored of sliding on the cold white variety you can always enjoy anything
from a cruise on a lake steamer to just feeding the ducks or even frog
watching! Visitors first started arriving at Interlaken long before downhill
skiing was conceived. One of them, Lord Byron, famously remarked "it's
a dream" on first seeing the town. The first hotels opened their doors
in 1806, complementing the existing monastery hospice (now the four star
hotel Interlaken) with the boom years beginning in the 1860's. Much of
the beautiful architecture and grand design date from this 50-year era
up to the First World War, but the impressive exteriors hide equally impressive
fully modernized interiors, enabling Interlaken to offer the best of old
and new. In the early days, when the likes of Goethe and Mendelssohn popped
by, Interlaken was promoted for its healthy climate, as well as the spectacular
views.
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Trail
map
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Town map
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click
on images for full-size view
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Content
on this page by permission from
"Where to Ski and Snowboard Worldwide"
©Chris Gill & Dave Watts |
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