Wengen, A Swiss Holiday Resort

Wengen, a Swiss holiday resort at the foot of the Eiger-Monch-Jungfrau range

The Swiss holiday resort of Wengen, nestling at the foot of the imposing peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau is a stunning area of natural beauty. A completely car-free area, this pretty village in the Bernese Oberland is part of the Jungfrau region as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfrau.

Tourists first came to Wengen by rail during the nineteenth century en route from Lauterbrunnen to the Wengernalp, Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald. The first guest house appeared in the 1890s and proved to be so popular following the development of the Wengernalp Mountain Railway, that a further 30 resorts were built over the next two decades.

This era of prosperity, albeit interrupted by the war, continued, encouraging further growth of transport facilities including cable-cars, chairlifts and more railway construction. Once a sleepy farming village, Wengen has become as a stunning chalet-style resort town that has managed to retain its quaint charms and character including its beautiful reformed church.

Wengen, the ideal place to relax, walk and mountain climb, is also home to the most difficult marathon in the world, the International Jungfrau Marathon. Every September thousands of runners from many countries scramble around the high elevations attempting to make the best time over this difficult terrain.

Ideally located in the ski center of Kleine Scheidegg-Mannlichen with its famed Lauberhorn and Eigergletscher runs, Wengen is not just a summer destination, it is one of the most attractive and popular winter sports villages in Switzerland. The most challenging and exciting downhill races in the World Cup circuit take place every January in the Lauberhorn Downhill Ski Race. Whether you're a skier, an après skier, a hiker or someone who just enjoys taking in scenic landscapes for a breath of fresh mountain air, Wengen is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year.