Grindewald, Switzerland

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Description of Grindewald:

Grindewald is that unique combination of natural wonders that both attracts and overwhelms you. It is a small village in a magnificent, sun drenched valley, dotted all around by hand-hewn, charming chalets. Overlooking all of this, is a long east-west stretch of mountains that are among the talled and the most treacherous in the world. Located in the Bernese Oberland, 14 miles southeast of Interlaken, Grindewald is in the heart of the famous Jungfrau region, lying at the foot of the awesome Wetterhorn (12,143') and the infamous Eiger North Face (13,026').

Grindewald, also known as "the Valley of the Glaciers", is one of the world's leading wintersports resorts. Skiing caters to all levels with three main areas to choose from. The center point of the region is the Kleine Sheidegg, which can be reached by train from Grindewald. It's wide open slopes, above the tree line, offer excellent skiing opportunities for all standards of skier in some of the most impressive scenery in the Alps with many pretty runs through pine forests back to the resort. The Grindewald/First slopes, lying below the 9609' Schwarzhown, offer great skiing for the intermediate with many long cruising runs to sharpen your skills before attacking the more difficult runs of Murren and the Schilthorn. At the top of the Schilthorn, you'll want to visit the "Piz Gloria", the revolving restaurant that was features in one of the James Bond films. Some of the spectacular skiing scenes from that movie were filmed on the expert runs you can take down from there. This is an area we would only recommend for experts.

Winter sports available at night include: night skiing, ice skating, curling, and even night ski jumping for those with a desire to try everything. The Sports Center also offers a fitness room, indoor swimming pool, sauna, solarium, and curling for those with plenty of energy. Of course, there are other forms of evening exercise to enjoy. Grindewald has an abundant supply of lively clubs and discos, as well as cozy little cafes where you can enjoy the apres ski life.

For the non-skier, this area offers many sights to see, from the excursion to the Jungfraujoch on Europe's highest mountain railway to the "Talhaus", a museam in a church containing exhibits on agricultures and alpine farming to individual excursions to Lucerne and Bern. Grindewald has something to offer for everyone.