The best waterfall hikes and walks around Melchsee

The bronze sculpture "Homage to Sherlock Holmes" by John Doubleday was unveiled in a small park not far from the Sherlock Holmes Museum on September 10, 1988. In Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock stories, Meringen is the setting for the showdown between the master detective and his antagonist Professor Moriarty, which ends with Holmes's apparent death at the Reichenbach Falls...

1960 The bridge and paths to the ,,Trockenen Lamm“ were dismounted because the cost of maintenance was too high. 1977 Financial investment was focused upon infrastructure and visitor's safety. 1987 The Aareschlucht restaurant at the west entrance was renovated. 2003 The MIB train stop at Aareschlucht Ost was accessed by a new swing-bridge. 2005 After a very bad storm, the gorge was closed for a few days during peak season because of safety reasons. 2008 The Aare-Bistro at the east entrance was built.

1946 On 6 May, the MIB train (between Meiringen and Innertkirchen) was granted permission to be used for public transport. The train belongs to the Oberhasli Hydroelectric Power Company and had previously been operating solely as a transport and workers' train for the company since 1 August 1926. 1947 The opening of the Susten pass road lead to a visitor's record 180000 admissions. 1957 The tram line was replaced by a bus connection.

Building Phases 1888 At the same time that the road to, and the paths in the gorge were built, the train line over the Brünig pass was opened. This made the Alps accessible for tourists, who came in droves. 1898 The gorge was completely accessed and passable throughout. A second entrance was built from the „Trockene Lamm“. 1912 With the introduction of electricity the Aare gorge was illuminated at night which was a huge attraction at the time. A tram line connected Meiringen with the Aare gorge1914 The flood lights for the evening illumination had to be given to the Swiss army. 1937 Evening illumination was newly installed using new vapour discharge lamps. 1940 Construction of the military cavern in the eastern part of the gorge. The entrance at „Trockenen Lamm“ was closed for safety reasons.

Eastern entrance or exit of the Aare Gorge. Visiting the Aare Gorge is subject to a fee, but it's well worth it. Tickets are available here. Parking for cars and coaches is available right in front of the entrance. A small restaurant with restrooms offers a wonderful view from the terrace, especially in summer. Various interesting information boards are available.

Meiringen train station since 1888 Meiringen train station was opened in 1888 with the Brünig Railway between Brienz and Alpnachstad. ZB Zentralbahn / former Brünig Railway The route network between Lucerne-Engelberg and Lucerne-Interlaken The Zentralbahn connects the Haslital with the SBB network. From Meiringen, the terminal stations Lucerne and Interlaken Ost are served, from which connecting trains can reach almost all regions of Switzerland. History The first trains of the Jura-Bern-Lucerne Railway ran between Alpnachstad and Brienz in 1888. A two-axle steam locomotive pulled three light passenger carriages over the Brünig. The six trains that ran daily each had space for 90 passengers. At that time, passengers used a steamship from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. To get to Interlaken, they had to change to the ship again in Brienz. It is understandable that the travel time between Lucerne and Interlaken was around six hours. The first reduction in travel time occurred in 1889 on the route from Lucerne to Alpnachstad with the opening of the Lopper tunnel. After 1900 As early as 1890, the young company became part of the Jura-Simplon-Lucerne railway and in 1903 part of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The Brünig railway remained the only meter-gauge railway of the SBB. The rack sections, which help to overcome gradients of up to 120 ‰, make the former Brünig railway an exotic and jewel even today. In 1916, the remaining gap between Brienz and Interlaken was finally closed. Thanks to the continuous rail connection, the travel time was reduced by around 50% to three hours and the number of daily trains increased to 10. Text / Source: Municipality of Meiringen, Rudenz 14, Meiringen https://www.meiringen.ch/oeffentlich/5870

The lake is also suitable for ice bathing in winter. Small jetty for direct entry and exit.

Lake Brienz offers a wonderful view from up here. In winter it is often covered in fog - so you have to look carefully to see if it is the lake or a sea of clouds.