EXPLORE MURREN, THE RESORT FOR EVERYONE
Murren's clifftop perch in the shadow of the Eiger and Jungfrau peaks offers a box seat to the stunning theatre that is Switzerland's mountain scenery
The village has a special place in skiing history too, as the cradle of Alpine racing, and this winter’s Inferno Week celebrates the centenary of the first modern slalom race. On 21 January 1922, Arnold Lunn set a course beside the Allmendhubel funicular, and, just over one hundred years later, the 78th running of the famous The Inferno – the world’s longest downhill amateur ski race – will take place on 22 January 2022.
Choose any week other than the adrenaline and excitement of Inferno Week, and you will be set for a relaxing holiday, enjoying the unspoilt charm of the car-free village, admiring the panorama from a window seat in the Schilthorn’s revolving restaurant, and cruising uncrowded pistes surrounded by incomparable beauty.
At 1650m, Mürren is one of the highest Swiss resorts, with reliable snow from early December until its spring-skiing telemark festival in early May. A dozen lifts and around 50km of piste may not seem like much, but the ski area boasts every variety of terrain, form Lilly’s Kids slope, where the next generation of Inferno racers are nurtured, to the jet-black Direttissima piste; diving down the dark side of the Engetal with a gradient of 88%, this represents a challenge of both nerve and technique. The spectacular black run from the Schilthorn is another box to tick, following in the tracks of James Bond and his epic escape from Blofeld in the film adaptation of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Mürren is often described as a time warp, but the villagers embrace change; with its ice rink, spa, and indoor pool, the sports centre would be the pride and joy of any resort, and the ski area stays ahead of the curve. Every year brings innovation: faster lifts, additional snow making capability, ski-cross courses, slalom timing, a huge, high altitude snow park, plus a raft of new attractions to add a thrill to the fun of the Shilthorn’s definitive 007 Bond World. The next project will see the chain of cable-cars taking the 2,000m ascent from the valley floor to the Schilthorn replace, cutting journey times to an ear-popping 19 minutes.
The flagship of Mürren’s wealth of family run hotels is undoubtedly the Eiger, unbeatable for a friendly welcome, great comfort, excellent food, stunning views from the pool and a pulsating night-club. The hotel’s Bond Suite comes with a bedside golden gun and décor to inspire sweet dreams of Honey Rider and Pussy Galore.
