Grindelwald is a very pretty, historic, year round resort in a spectacular setting with the backdrop of awe inspiring mountains including the Eiger. Grindelwald is also the largest base in the Jungfrau region, which includes Wengen and Mürren. It shares a ski area with Wengen, but also has its own First ski area. Famous for the accessibility of its glaciers and spectacular scenery, Grindelwald celebrated its 850th birthday in 1996 and the 50th anniversary of the First Mountain railway in 1997. The first person to ski here was Englishman Gerald Fox who put his skis on in his hotel bedroom in 1881 and walked out through the hotel bar to the slopes wearing them - then followed the great and the good from around the world. Indeed the resort is busy year round and has a distinctly cosmopolitan air, attracting guests from all over the world giving a diverse ethnic mix in clientele rarely found in other resorts. As with Chamonix, Grindelwald's history as a climbing village predates that of its skiing fame, and its mountaineering heritage remains strong.
