Lauterbrunnen - Definition

Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Interlaken (district) of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh. The population of the Lauterbrunnen village is less than that of Wengen, but greater than that of the others.

The name Lauterbrunnen is a combination of lauter meaning clear or bright, and Brunnen meaning spring. Whosoever sees the Staubbach Falls waterfall in Lauterbrunnen will appreciate Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (literal translation: song of the spirit over the water) which he wrote whilst a guest at the parish house.

The river Weissen Lütschine flows through Lauterbrunnen and overflows its banks about once a year.

Transport

The Berner Oberland-Bahn (BOB) train runs from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen. Here a connecting Wengernalpbahn (WAB) train leads to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Grindelwald, and another connecting Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM) train leads up to Mürren.