For centuries, the Swiss hamlet of Mürren remained largely cut off from the outside world. But a new cable car, the world's steepest, now whisks visitors to the 430-person village perched 1,638 metres above sea level in the Bernese Oberland.
The Schilthornbahn cable car opened late last year, connecting the valley floor at Stechelberg to Mürren in just four minutes. It climbs 775 metres at a gradient of 159.4%, surpassing the previous record holder, Norway's Loen Skylift. The journey offers stunning views of craggy mountains and snow-covered pines.
Mürren is a 13th-century village with traditional stone and timber cottages, clinging to a natural terrace at the foot of the Schilthorn summit. Because of its location, engineers have never been able to build a road to the village. Until the cable car opened, residents relied on a narrow-gauge railway and a funicular to reach the valley.
Local resident Michael Abegglen, who grew up in Mürren, said taking the cable car to school was an everyday ritual. He noted that while most necessities are available in the village, residents must travel to the valley for doctors, hairdressers or dentists. The community is close-knit, with many guests returning year after year.
Visitors can explore the car-free village on foot, discovering cosy inns, rustic restaurants serving Alpine cheeses, and souvenir shops. The Hotel Mürren Palace, built in 1874, once hosted celebrities like Rita Hayworth. Mürren is also a major winter sports hub, having been discovered by British skiers in the late 1800s. The world's first slalom ski races were founded there in 1922 by Arnold Lunn, and the country's first ski school was established in the village.
