History

In 1911, J.R.R. Tolkien, then aged 19, was walking in the Swiss Alps - and of course in the Lauterbrunnen valley with its steep rock faces. Few people know that it was here that he found the inspiration for the landscapes in "The Lord of the Rings". And indeed: those familiar with the books and the film adaptations always feel transported to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, as if to Middle-earth.

You do realise that the 'Hobbit' would never have existed without Switzerland!

BERND GREISINGER Founder of the Greisinger Museum in Jenins

Mountains and ranges are named after their size and shape (Breithorn, top left), their geological composition (Schwarzmönch, top right), their location (Mittaghorn, bottom left), people (Agassizhorn, bottom right), but also after the weather, vegetation, wildlife and myths.

This is how the artist Alan Lee imagines the famous Rivendell in Middle-earth as described by Tolkien. Not a theme. Clearly inspired by the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Here in direct comparison with Rivendell from the film "Lord of the Rings".

There she is now. The "Sister of Rivendell".

The so-called Bögli on the mule track and the hospice on the Grimsel Pass become Elrond's estate in the Misty Mountains in the film.

...become Elrond's estate in the Misty Mountains in the film.

The three peaks above Moria

The ring bearers fail at the three mountains above Moria. Instead, they venture through the mines. The terrible result of this decision is known to all.

Protected in the Jungfrau railways, the modern ring bearers travel through the Eiger and Mönch: Saruman is simply powerless. His attacks simply bounce off.

The Celebdil, also known as the Silver Pinnacle, is a mountain in the Misty Mountains and, along with Caradhras and Fanuidhol, one of the three mountains above the Mines of Moria. The direct model for the Celebdil is the Silver Horn, a secondary peak of the Maiden. Tolkien refers to this white pyramid as "the silver pinnacle of my dreams".

The largest and most famous of all dwarven kingdoms has its origins in the Jungfrau Region. The mines of Moria - also known to the dwarves as "Kazad-dûm".

There's no train going up yet. And wading through this snow is not a good idea either. That's why the ring bearer chooses the route through the mines of Moria. The Balrog, whom they awaken in the cave, naturally likes this decision. Gandalf is bound to disagree. The idea that the mountains in the dwarven kingdom of "Kazad-dûm" are criss-crossed by two stone halls, stairways and passages can be traced back to the Jungfrau railway, which was still under construction in the summer of 1911. Tolkien definitely remembered this work of the century.

9,34

kilometres and almost 1,400 metres in altitude on its way to the highest railway station in Europe. Just over seven kilometres of the route are in tunnels.

A relic from the caves of Moria? And a coat rack for Gimli and his dwarf friends?

It doesn't take much imagination to imagine you're in the middle of the film "Lord of the Rings" when you visit the Trümmelbach Waterfalls. With its ten glacial waterfalls inside the mountain, made accessible by a tunnel lift, the Trümmelbach Waterfalls are unique in Europe.

It doesn't take much imagination to imagine you're in the middle of the film "Lord of the Rings" when you visit the Trümmelbachfalls. With glacial waterfalls inside the mountain, made accessible by a lift, the Trümmelbach Waterfalls are unique in Europe.

Fans of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' can experience great cinema in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

BERND GREISINGER Founder of the Greisinger Museum in Jenins

Instead of Nazgûls, there are lots of paragliders in the sky (top left) How would Tolkien have incorporated these creatures into his story? (Above right) A heroic moment. The eagles are simply welcome in the film. The giant birds can now also be seen on Grindelwald-First. An exciting attraction for Jungfrau Railways. How would Tolkien have incorporated these creatures into his story? (Below)

A heroic moment. The eagles are simply welcome in the film. The giant birds can now also be seen on Grindelwald-First. An exciting attraction organised by Jungfrau railways.

How would Tolkien have incorporated these creatures into his story?

Memories of the Fangorn Forest come flooding back...

The Ents will probably not be happy about that: Was Saruman at work here too, cutting down the trees to build his mighty army?

Modern Riders of Rohan in the Misty Mountains

The mighty army makes its way to Gondor. Over the Grimsel Pass. The model for the pass in the Misty Mountains.

Fog rolls over the Grimsel Pass. However, the modern Riders of Rohan are not deterred and bravely fight their way on their high-tech horses with in-built gears. At the end of their journey, the battle before the walls of Gondor does not await them, but the efforts of the modern riders will also be visible. The best manage five passes in a row. Impressive. In comparison, of course, the battle for Gondor is just a storm in a teacup.

In search of the elven bread "Lembas", local specialities from the bakeries catch the eye.

Pause auf dem Staubbachbänkli in Wengen mit Sicht ins Lauterbrunnental und mit einem Fondue.

Seven

Meals a day a Hobbit eats: breakfast, second breakfast, 11 o'clock snack, lunch, tea time, dinner and supper.

Where the hobbits can have a little romp among the humans (top left). Wands must stay outside! Either Gandalf is shopping in the shop or he has become a little forgetful in his old age (top right). There are also trolls to be seen. In Mürren, for example, in front of a café (bottom left). If hobbits drove cars, this would probably be a spacious delivery van (bottom right).