This UNESCO-protected Alpine valley is pretty much right out of The Lord of the Rings. Its' called "Lauterbrunnen," and it's one of the most beautifully-scenic valleys in all of Europe. It's less than 2.2 miles in width, but it certainly packs a punch, with imposing rock cliffs and mountain peaks that rise over 300 meters from the valley floor.
Some major highlights include the mountain village of Isenfluh, Trümmelbach Falls, considered one of Europe's wildest glacier ravines (and includes 10 waterfalls!), Schilthorn, which inspired James Bond, and includes the Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant that showcases 40 mountain peaks, as well as 20 glaciers and the Jungfraujoch, a railway that's been in operation since 1912, and takes visitors through a 7-kilometer long tunnel to the "Top of Europe."
The name "Lauter Brunnen" literally translates to “many springs”. And it's no wonder why, with 72 waterfalls that help frame the lush valley, the most famous of which is Staubbach Falls.
Various secluded mountain inns dot the countryside, which make up one of Switzerland's largest nature conservation preserves.
According to My Switzerland:
"In 1779, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the valley, and was inspired by the roaring waters to write his well-known poem ‘Spirit song over the waters.' Another deafening natural phenomenon are the Trümmelbach Falls in the ‘Black Monk’ mountain, hidden behind mighty rock faces. Up to 20,000 litres of water per second cascade over the ten glacier falls from a total height of about 200 metres. This spectacle can only be reached in summer by tunnel lift
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