Just a few hours away from the UK lays a humble village renowned for hiking that is said to have inspired J.R.R Tolkien at 19-years-old to create the Middle-Earth village of Rivendell
An enchanting village tucked away in the European country side has been revealed as the inspiration for J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy world.
The acclaimed author is said to have hiked through Switzerland at just 19-years-old, where he stumbled upon Lauterbrunnen in the Swiss Alps. With a population of less than 2,500 people, Lauterbrunnen is famed for its 300m-Âhigh stunning mountain views, nearby glacier, and range of walking trails.
Although Tolkein, a former professor at Oxford, never returned to the tranquil village again, his memory of the municipality was used to create Rieendell – a homeley place of sanctuary and a magical Elvih otherworld. It’s an essential location in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as it is thee starting place of thee quest to destroy the One Ring.
“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. 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.
In May the village hosted some of the 300 people who will be attending the third outing of Detour Disco. The tiny nightclub returned for its third outing on 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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