Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Interlaken 46°36′N 7°54′E / 46.6°N 7.9°E / 46.6; 7.9Coordinates: 46°36′N 7°54′E / 46.6°N 7.9°E / 46.6; 7.9
Population	2,478 (December 2007[update])
- Density	15 /km2 (39 /sq mi)
Area	164.4 km2 (63.5 sq mi)
Elevation	795 m (2,608 ft)
Postal code	3822
SFOS number	0584
Localities	Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg, Isenfluh
Surrounded by	Aeschi bei Spiez, Blatten (Lötschen) (VS), Fieschertal (VS), Grindelwald, Gündlischwand, Kandersteg, Lütschental, Reichenbach im Kandertal, Saxeten, Wilderswil
Website	www.lauterbrunnen.ch SFSO statistics
Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

The municipality lies in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and comprises the villages Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg and Isenfluh. The population of the Lauterbrunnen village is less than that of Wengen, but greater than that of the others.

History

Lauterbrunnen is first mentioned in 1240 as in claro fonte. In 1304 it was mentioned as Luterbrunnen.^[1]

Geography

View of the valley from the Männlichen

Lauterbrunnen has an area of 164.4 square kilometers (63.5 sq mi). Of this area, 23.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (58.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[2]

The river Weisse Lütschine flows through Lauterbrunnen and overflows its banks about once a year. The source of the river comes from melting snow high in the mountains, thus making it a very pure and clean source of water. It is common practice in the camp sites to chill drinks in the water.

Lauterbrunnen lies at the bottom of a hanging or U-shaped valley that extends south and then south-westwards from the village to meet the 8-kilometre-long Lauterbrunnen Wall.

Demographics

The Lauterbrunnen Valley. The village of Lauterbrunnen (foreground), the Staubbach Falls (centre right), the Jungfrau (top left) and the Lauterbrunnen Wall (background).

Lauterbrunnen has a population (as of 2007^[update]) of 2,478, of which 19.2% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -14.3%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (85.2%), with Portuguese being second most common (4.9%) and Serbo-Croatian being third (2.0%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 38.1% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (19.8%), the SPS (14.5%) and the Green Party (10.5%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0-19 years old) make up 22.4% of the population, while adults (20-64 years old) make up 58.9% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 18.7%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Lauterbrunnen about 66.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).

Lauterbrunnen has an unemployment rate of 3.57%. As of 2005^[update], there were 186 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 64 businesses involved in this sector. 197 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 32 businesses in this sector. 1557 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 194 businesses in this sector.^[2] The historical population is given in the following table:^[1]

^A  Since 1973 includes Isenfluh

Origin of the name

According to locals, the name Lauterbrunnen is a combination of lauter meaning many, and brunnen meaning spring, fountain, or well. However, there is considerable dispute about the meaning of 'lauter', with some translating it as louder and others as clear, bright, or clean.

Transport

Lauterbrunnen railway station

The Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) train runs to Interlaken.

The Wengernalpbahn (WAB) train leads to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Grindelwald,

The cable car and connecting train, both operated by the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM), provide service to Mürren. An alternative route to Mürren is available using the bus via the Trummelbach Falls to Stechelberg and then the Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn (LSMS).

In other media

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (literal translation: Song of the Spirits above the Waters) was written while he stayed at the parish house near the Staubbach Falls waterfall in Lauterbrunnen. The Lauterbrunnen valley also provided the pictorial model for J. R. R. Tolkien's sketches and watercolours of the fictitious valley of Rivendell, and possibly also the name of the Bruinen river (meaning 'Loudwater') which flowed through it.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lauterbrunnen

• www.lauterbrunnen.ch Official website
• Anne-Marie Dubler: Lauterbrunnen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Truemmelbachfaelle

References

v • d • e Municipalities in the district of Interlaken, Switzerland Beatenberg | Bönigen | Brienz | Brienzwiler | Därligen | Grindelwald | Gsteigwiler | Gündlischwand | Habkern | Hofstetten bei Brienz | Interlaken | Iseltwald | Lauterbrunnen | Leissigen | Lütschental | Matten bei Interlaken | Niederried bei Interlaken | Oberried am Brienzersee | Ringgenberg | Saxeten | Schwanden bei Brienz | Unterseen | Wilderswil Canton of Bern | Districts of Canton Bern | Municipalities of the canton of Bern