Bernese Oberland

eturn Sfr3.40/6.80; h6am-7pm) train running
half-hourly on weekdays, less frequently at
weekends, from Meiringen to Aareschlucht
East, near the eastern entrance.
Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui GORGE
(www.rosenlauischlucht.ch; adult/child Sfr7/3.50;
h9am-6pm Jun-Sep, 10am-5pm May & Oct)
Zwirgi is the start of the mountainous
Reichenbach Valley, which runs towards
Grindelwald. A path leads to Rosenlaui and
this dramatic glacier gorge, where a round
trail takes in waterfalls and 80m-high cliff s.
The walk back to Meiringen takes at least
two hours, but hourly buses also ply the
route from June to September.
Sherlock Holmes Museum MUSEUM
(www.sherlockholmes.ch; Bahnhofstrasse 26; adult/
child Sfr4/3, combined with Reichenbachfall
funicular Sfr11/8; h1.30-6pm Tue-Sun May-Sep,
4.30-6pm Wed-Sun rest of year) Real fans won’t
want to miss this museum in the basement
of the English church back in Meiringen.
The highlight is a recreated sitting room of
221b Baker Street. Multilingual audioguides
are available.
Triftbrücke BRIDGE
(Trift Bridge; www.trift.ch, in German) The Hasli
Valley is laced with 300km of signposted
walking trails. A huge hit with outdoorsy
types is this 170m-long, 100m-high suspension
bridge, Europe’s longest and highest.
Hikers come to balance above the majestic
Trift glacier, as it becomes meltwater
more swiftly than it once did. To reach
the glacier from Meiringen, take a train
to Innertkirchen, then a bus to Nessental,
Triftbahn (Sfr9.20, 30 minutes). Here a cable
car (www.grimselwelt.ch; one way/return Sfr14/
22; h9am-4pm Jun-Oct, to 5pm Jul & Aug) takes
you up to 1022m, from where it’s a 1½- to
two-hour walk to the bridge (1870m).
4 Sleeping & Eating
oHotel Victoria BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$
(%033 972 10 40; www.victoria-meiringen.ch;
Bahnhofplatz 9; s Sfr150, d Sfr190-250, tr Sfr280;
pi) It’s the little touches that count at this
boutique-chic hotel: from the fresh fl owers
and designer furnishings in your room to
the mountain views and free room service.
Simon puts an imaginative spin on
French–Asian cuisine in the Gault Millaurated
restaurant (mains Sfr29 to Sfr52),
serving delicacies like Thai-style ravioli
and beef in red wine sauce with truffl epotato
mousse.
Park Hotel du Sauvage HISTORIC HOTEL $$
(%033 971 41 41; www.sauvage.ch; Bahnhofstrasse
30; s/d Sfr125/210) Arthur Conan Doyle once
stayed in this art nouveau classic, but today
it’s pensioners on whodunnit weekends who
spy on the breakfast buff et. After the oldfashioned
grandeur in the lobby, the rooms
are something of an anticlimax. Real detectives,
however, will fi nd its merits: friendly
staff , superb views and perhaps a tweed hat
in the wardrobe…
Hotel Alpbach SWISS $$
(%033 971 18 31; www.alpbach.ch; Kirchgasse 17;
s Sfr95-130, d Sfr180-230) Friendly service is
something of a lucky dip, but we can’t fault
the charming pine-clad quarters at this
central hotel. Up the romance by opting
for a four-poster bed. There’s a small sauna
and steam room, as well as a rustic restaurant
(mains Sfr24 to Sfr52) festooned with
cowbells and accordions.
Frutal CAFE $
(Bahnhofstrasse 18; cakes Sfr3-6; h7am-6.30pm)
A kitsch plastic meringue licks its lips in
the window of this old-fashioned tea room.
You’ll do likewise when you taste the featherlight
meringues here. Try them with
whipped cream (Sfr9.50).
Molki Meiringen DAIRY $
(Lenggasse; h8am-12.15pm & 2-6.30pm Mon-Fri,
7.30am-5pm Sat) Stop by this local dairy for
tangy Haslital cheeses and homemade ice
cream.
8 Information
As you exit the train station (bike rental
available), you’ll see the post offi ce and bus
station opposite.
Haslital Pass (3/6 days Sfr100/160; hApr-
Oct) Offers unlimited use of local buses,
Brienz–Meiringen–Brünig trains, BLS boats
and Meiringen–Hasliberg lifts. Children
receive free passes when accompanied by
their parents.
Tourist office (%033 972 50 50; www.haslital
.ch; Bahnhofplatz; h8am-6pm Jul-Aug,
Dec-Apr, 8am-noon & 2-6pm btwn seasons)
Has info on hiking in the region and E-bike
rental for Sfr30/50 per half-/full day.
8 Getting There & Away
Frequent trains go to Lucerne (Sfr22, 80
minutes, with a scenic ride over the Brünig Pass)
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EAST BERNESE BERNESE OBERLAND OBERLAND SLEEPING MEIRINGEN SLEEPING & EATING & EATING