Lately, I’ve visited Grindelwald in Berneroberland, in the heart of the Swiss alps. From this charming town, you can see probably the most famous mountain trio of the alps besides the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc: The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are three mountains that have something alluring and yet chilling to me and the majority of the people that have seen those mountains. Somehow they bound all of my attention, gave me a feeling of respect and admiration. The immense rock walls, covered in snow, stand allerting in front of the small village. For thousands of years, they were unreachable, dangerous and had something almost supernatural.
Also, they are closely visible from the Lauterbrunnen valley, which makes the immense hight of the mountains striking: Lauterbrunnen lays at 800 meters, whereas the mountains surrounding it reach more han 4000 meters.
Eiger (Engl. "High Peak") is the smallest with 3970 meters, yet the most challenging for rock climbers and all in all probably the most popular amongst the trio.
It claimed countless deaths from climbers trying to reach the top. Edi Rainer’s and Willy Angerer’s legendary attempt to climb the peak failed in 1936. They were fearlessly saying „If that rock face can be climbed, then we are going to do it - or die doing it.“. Unfortunately the second proposition occured. Only two years later, in 1938 it was finally conquered.
Mönch (Engl. "Monch") is the second biggest at 4107 meters above sea-level. Its name was probably given by the alpine pastures below the mountain where horses called Münche used to graze.
Jungfrau (Engl. "Vrigin") is the tallest at 4158 meters and gives the Jungfrau Region, the area around these mountains its well known name. The name „Jungfrau“ probably originated from the nuns living in a monastery at the bottom of the mountain. It is also the third highest mountain in the Bernese Highlands and it hosts the highest railyway station in Europe at 3,354 meters above sea-level.
The Jungfrau Region offers you stunning and mystical views, but also breathtakingly beautiful small towns and alpine villages. In winter it's perfect for skiing, in summer for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. Also, to get even closer to the mountains, you can do paragliding or take the gondolas to reach the top of the mountains.
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