Switzerland is country with no shortage of beautiful sights and scenery, but making the trip up to Jungfrau on a tour of Europe is an experience not to be missed! Read about a recent trip up the mountain and prepare for dazzling views!
I’d spent just a few hours in Switzerland and had already strolled up the hillside close to our accommodation. So I was really looking forward to heading up to Jungfrau. And boy did Switzerland beat my expectations. Going up at the tail-end of the ski season meant that there was still a fair amount of snow on the ground as we climbed ever higher, with the odd skier taking advantage of the last few days of the season.
Switzerland has a reputation for being ‘chocolate-box pretty’, and I did feel like I was living a classic fairy tale. Appreciation of natural beauty is clearly one of the most important aspects of the Swiss lifestyle, and everything seems to serve this purpose. Thoughtful design compliments the natural surroundings, from the immaculately kept homesteads to the sleek uniforms of the train conductors and charming little train carriages. The Swiss are clearly in love with their country, a proud people with a real sense of how lucky they are to live in such an unspoilt environment.
As we made our way up to Jungfrau, we couldn’t help but be pressed up against the windows, nabbing shots of the countryside as it went past. Pretty soon we realised that there was no shortage of incredible views, and I felt that by trying to capture it all on camera we may be missing the point somehow. I was pleased to sit quietly and simply drink it all in.
Jungfraujoch is a saddle between the two imposing peaks of Mönch and the Jungfrau, featuring the highest railway station in Europe at an elevation of 3454 meters. It features spectacular views from the various look-out points, and also has year-round snow thanks to its elevation. Accessed by a 7 kilometre-long railway tunnel, it’s really quite something to emerge from the station into the visitor centre, with truly stunning views all around.
We went outdoors pretty much right away, and were greeted with this incredible view:
After spending some time in the snow, we wandered around the indoor section, explored the museum which tells the story of how the tunnel and railway were constructed, slipped and slid our way through the ice cave, and then took the elevator up to The Sphinx, a peak just to the east of the col featuring a small viewing platform and scientific observatory. With outside temperatures of -16 degrees it wasn’t the sort of place to hang around too long, but the views were breath-taking!
One does start to feel quite out-of-breath before long up there, and even climbing the stairs can leave one feeling a little light-headed! Don’t forget to take snacks to keep the blood sugar up; I found my stomach grumbling before too long! We all felt rather drowsy on the way down, lounging in the train as the picture-perfect scenery rolled past us. The perfect way to reflect on some mind-boggling mountain views.
All in all it was an incredible experience, a chance to see some of Switzerland’s finest scenery. Highly recommended!
Take a trip up to Jungfrau, Switzerland on your tour of Europe.