Page 537 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

6 Giessbachfälle
Illuminating the fir for-
ests like a spotlight in the
dark, the misty Giess-
bachfälle (Giessbach
Falls) plummet 500m
over 14 rocky ridges.
HUBER PHOTOGRAPHY / GETTY IMAGES ©
Europe’s oldest funicular,
dating to 1879, creaks
up from the boat station
(one-way/return Sfr5/10),
but it’s only a 15-minute
walk up to the most strik-
ing section of the falls.
The Drive » Get back onto SWITZERLAND 37 THE SwISS ALPS
the A8 and follow the road along
the Brienzersee until exit 25
(Wilderswil/Grindelwald), then
continue as the road winds its
way through rural countryside
up to Grindelwald (39km, 45
minutes).

7 Grindelwald
Grindelwald’s sublime
natural assets are film-
set stuff: the chiselled
features of the north
face of Eiger, the glinting
tongues of Oberer and
Unterer Glaciers and
the crown-like peak of
Wetterhorn. Skiers and
hikers cottoned onto its
charms in the late 19th
century, which makes
it one of Switzerland’s
oldest resorts. And it has
lost none of its appeal,
with geranium-studded
Alpine chalets and ver-
dant pastures aplenty.
Turbulent waters carve
a path through the crag-
gy glacier gorge known
as Gletscherschlucht
(Glacier Gorge; adult/child
Sfr7/3.50; h10am-5pm

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