04 January 2024 , 14:41
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A Swiss village is so beautiful it inspired J.R.R Tolkien to design a fantasy refuge for elves.
“From Rivendell to the other side of the Misty Mountains, the journey... including the glissade down the slithering stones into the pine woods... is based on my adventures in Switzerland in 1911," wrote the author of the adventure which first helped him dream up the land so core to his seminal text.
Mountain and fantasy experts have long argued that the high peaked, south west region of Switzerland is where J.R.R found the colour and beauty he needed to bring parts of Middle Earth to life. For years hikers have been visiting these valleys in hopes of recreating the Lord of the Rings experience.
Long before he became an English professor at the University of Oxford or one of the most celebrated authors the country has ever produced, Tolkien was on a hiking trip through Switzerland at the age of just 19. He would never returned to the area again, but his short trip made enough of an impressive.
The Jugfraujoch Railway runs by the stunning town (Getty Images)Lauterbrunnen, located in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, is one of the captivating destinations he visited and one that is understood to be a direct inspiration for the settlement of Rivendell.
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In the Lord of the Rings universe Rivendell represents a homely place of sanctuary and a magical Elvish otherworld, stacked impossibly up the side of a mountain which confuses where the rock begins and the hand-made structures begin.
Those who approach Lauterbrunnen - which has a population of just 2,000 that seems to be protected from the outside world by the sheerness of its cliff walls - report a similar impressive. It is a town blessed by stunning landscapes, surrounded by majestic mountains and verdant valleys.
Like Rivendell, where the water flows seamlessly around the elves' homes, Lauterbrunne region boasts 72 waterfalls, including the iconic Staubbach Falls which produces a cascade 300m tall.
As well as being bowled over by its beauty, there is an awful lot to do in the area if you do manage to visit. For thrill-seekers, Lauterbrunnen offers a range of outdoor activities, from paragliding over the breathtaking scenery to skiing in the winter months.
You can also explore the extensive network of hiking trails, such as the Jungfrau Eiger Walk, providing not only a physical challenge but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the alpine surroundings.
Lauterbrunnen serves as a gateway to charming Swiss villages like Wengen and Mürren. Accessible by cable cars, these small settlements offer an authentic Alpine experience with traditional architecture and warm hospitality.
This May the village will host some of the 300 people who will be attending the third outing of Detour Disco. The tiny nightclub is returning for its third outing from May 10 to 12m moving to a spot between the Birg and Schilthorn mountains 2,970m above sea level. In its first year party people schlepped out to Iceland for the far-flung festival before it move to the remote Hebridean island of Coll this summer.
Detour Discotheque pays homage to legendary nightclubs of the 1970s like Studio 54 and Paradise Garage, creating glamorous dance floors in the most remote and unexpected places.
Its founder Jonny Ensall said: “Detour is all about finding spectacular locations for intimate parties, and this is as stunning as it gets. The cable car ride alone is heart-stopping. A nightclub at 3,000m is definitely our most ambitious project yet.”
There are around 19 trains per day running between London and Lauterbrunnen, which usually take 13 hours 4 minutes to complete the 495 miles (797 km) journey. It can take as little as 9 hours 25 minutes on the fastest services though, if you want to get there as quickly as possible.
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