Murren
Ski Resort

Perched on the edge of a cliff, Mürren (in English, without the umlaut, the name is usually simplified to “Murren” although “Muerren” is more grammatically correct) is accessed by cable car, so just getting to the resort is quite an experience. The reward is an uncrowded, unspoilt car-free resort with incredible views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains.

Murren shares the medium-sized Jungfrau ski area with Wengen and Grindelwald on the other side of the valley, but it takes about an hour to make the crossing (descend on skis or by cable car from Murren to Lauterbrunnen then take the cog railway up to Wengen) so few will want to do it every day. Fortunately, Murren’s own ski area, whilst small, has something for everyone, including challenging black runs and off-piste for advanced skiers and freeriders. The top lift reaches an impressive 2970m, and the resort itself is at 1650m elevation, so snow conditions are usually good, at least above the resort. The run down to Lauterbrunnen at only 795m is not always skiable, but when it is, it’s the final leg of a continuous 2000m vertical descent that is breathtaking in every sense.

But judging Murren by the size and height of its ski area rather misses the point. No statistic can measure the beauty of its mountain scenery, the charm of its wooden chalets, and the sense of tradition that permeates its narrow car-free streets. This is one of the cradles of Alpine skiing. Slalom racing was invented in Murren in 1922 by Sir Arnold Lunn who campaigned for it to be recognised as an international sport in the days when downhill-only skiing was considered suitable only for those too feeble to ski cross-country! And Murren’s long association with skiing is commemorated each year in the top-to-bottom Inferno race held in late January and still open to amateur enthusiasts.