Accessible only by cog-train, the charming Victorian-style mountain village of Wengen sits high on a sunny plain at the foothills of three of the tallest peaks in the Alps. Perched on a high shelf above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen is an unassuming village dating back to 1268.

Throughout the Middle Ages it was a small farming community overseen by Augustine monks but all this changed in the 1830s as summer tourists began to explore the peaks above, namely the Eiger, Jungfrau and the Mönch. The village is still small, charming and relaxed today.

Wengen is well known for its pure mountain air. Lying on a sheltered terrace facing southwest, Wengen guarantees many hours of sunshine. Many guests coming to Wengen, one of the few villages in Switzerland not reached by road, find the tranquillity they are looking for all year. Wengen is also specially attractive for families with its pure mountain air and lack of noise from traffic.

Who Goes There?
Charming Wengen village is appealing to families, but is suitable for anyone looking for a skiing holiday.

On Piste
The train from the valley carries on to the top of the ski area at Eigergletscher (2320m) from where you can ski on the Wengen side or drop into neighbouring Grindelwald. The two resorts share a decent 150km of mainly intermediate pistes with a further 53km at nearby Mürren, linked by train but not by piste.

Off Piste
There are some stupendous off-piste possibilities in Wengen itself including several mighty descents under the north face of the Eiger. Most of the off-piste terrain is lift-accessible.

Restaurants/ Cuisine
Wengen is one of the most scenic bases for mountain lunches anywhere in the Alps and the food lives up to the location. The top table is on the terrace at Eigergletscher with views up to the Eiger and across the glacier. Most of the restaurants are also in the hotels and do good traditional Swiss and French cuisine, alongside the occasional pizza joint.

Nightlife
This is no Alpine party town but a quiet, friendly resort with a handful of bars and several discos in some of the hotels.

Shopping
Wengen has numerous shops on the main street selling a wide variety of merchandise.

Facilities
Both the Hotel Beausite Park and the Victoria Lauberhorn have spa facilities which are open to non-residents. The outdoor ice rink is a key part of the village; either get your skates on or try your hand at curling. There are few better places in the Alps for a scenic helicopter flight.

Children
The baby slope is right in the heart of the village and you can use the train to climb the mountain. The train ride to the windows in the Eiger is a real treat. One drawback, however, is that there are no group children's lessons in the afternoon so the only option is private tuition if you want your kids in day-long ski school.