HOME   ARTICLES   ABOUT US   LINKS   SPECIAL DEALS   CONTACT

Bargain Travel Europe guide to EuropeTravel on a budget for unusual destinations, travel tips and secrets missed by travel tours.

For a week in the middle of every January (14-19 for 2008) ice art takes the over natural ice rink in the center of the Alps glacier village of Grindelwald. The World Snow Festival of curious and nearly impossible seeming ice sculptures designed by competing international artists fascinate visitors to this town framed by some the Alps most famed and breat-taking mountain peaks, the Eiger and the Jungfrau. The snow festival began several years ago when Japanese artists carved the image of Switzerland’s best known little mountain girl “Heidi” in the snow, and has developed into an international event. But what to do after you’ve seen the sculptures?

Grindelwald is best known as the “Eiger Village” at the base of the iconic mountain’s North Face, a winter vacation wonderland for ski sports and icy mountain peak lovers. The alpine town located is near Interlaken in the Bernes Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. Nestled below the backdrop of the Eiger, Wetterhorn and Jungfrau mountain peaks Grindelwald is the gateway to the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The Jungfraujoch, known as the “Top of the World”, is one of the most spectacular destinations in the Alps with its Aletsch glacier, the longest in the Alps.

Take a ride on the Glacier Express - Panoramic Mountain Views from St. Moritz to Zermatt

Grundelwald is the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau area with 44 cable cars and ski lifts at the Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen, Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn ski areas. Ski and snowboard schools with special courses for children and family ski parties guided by the cuddly mascot Snowli. Kids who aren’t into skiing can just face-paint and play around the ice igloo jungle gyms. There are a number of private ski schools and guide programs for all levels, up to ice climbing and heli-skiing. The Bodmi ski park offers Night Skiing on its training area above the twinkling lights of the alpine village. Try out the 70 kilometers of toboggan and sled run trails unique to Bernese Oberland, including the world’s longest toboggan run at Faulhorn, a ride lasting almost 2 ½ hours and several thousand feet in altitude. Get a kick out of nighttime tobogganing on the Eiger Run after your cheese fondue at one of the several mountain restaurants. The Sports Centre has indoor pools, wellness center, ice skating, curling and hockey.

For those who like their snow play at a slower pace, there are 80 kilometers of footpaths in winter for snow hiking. Take a romantic ride through the deep snow on a horse-drawn sleigh or a cable ride on the Schiltorn Bahn to the top of Schiltorn Mountain, made famous as the Alpine villain’s lair in the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, to the rotating Piz Gloria restaurant with its magnificent view of the Bernese Alps and the highest and steepest slops in the Jungfrau region. Snow Bicycles, that fun contraption where you sit in a ski seat are an original of Grindelwald and the Velogemel World Championships are held in Grindelwald every February.

Grindelwald is the twin city of Japan’s Azumi Mura and linked with other Switzerland resort areas St. Moritz, Zermatt, France’s Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Germany’s Garmish-Partenkirchen and Italy’s Cortina as part of the “Best of the Alps” resort areas.
Grindelwald is 6 hours by train from Paris, Frankfurt or Milan - 10 hours from Berlin or Vienna, an hour from Zurich. There’s lots to do at Interlaken and Grindelwald in summer, too. - but then you’d miss the Ice Sculptures. © Bargain Travel Europe

Get a Rail Europe Swiss Saver Flexipass or a save 50% on local rail, busses and mountaintop rides with a Swiss Card

Web Info
Jungfrau Skiing
Grindel World Winter Sports

These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.

SEE ALSO:

WALLISERHOF CHALET HOTEL ZERMATT
Snuggle under the Matterhorn

BERNINA EXPRESS
Picture Perfect Swiss Alps Scenic Railway

Get a Free Travel Safety Guide from Bargain Travel Europe

Privacy
Legal
Contact

Discover Cheap Travel in Europe on a Budget with Bargain Travel Europe and also visit Bargain Travel West for travel ideas in western North America --- ©2006-07 Winged Lion Entertainment Ventures, LL