This Swiss mountain town is famous for its meringue dessert and Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes had his final battle with Moriarty in Conan Doyle's story.
In Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, Meiringen sits at the base of three mountain passes. You can watch water thunder down the 250-meter Reichenbach Falls, walk through the narrow passages of the Aare Gorge, or follow the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes at the local museum. The village, which claims to have invented the meringue dessert, connects to hundreds of kilometers of Alpine hiking trails leading to Grindelwald and Lake Brienz.
Exploring the Reichenbach Falls
The Reichenbach Falls drop 250 meters in multiple cascades, with water flowing most intensely during spring snowmelt. Take the wooden funicular from 1899, which fits 24 passengers and climbs the mountainside every 15 minutes. At the top, follow the walking path to the viewing platform where you'll find a plaque marking the location of the fictional final confrontation between Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty.
Walking Through the Aare Gorge
The Aare River has carved a 1.4-kilometer path through limestone cliffs over thousands of years, creating walls that rise 200 meters high. You can walk the entire gorge in about 45 minutes on metal walkways anchored to the rock walls. Some passages narrow to just one or two meters wide, with the river rushing below.
Mountain Activities on Hasliberg
Take the gondola from Meiringen to access Hasliberg's 300 kilometers of marked hiking paths. In summer, you can rent Trotti bikes for downhill rides on designated trails. Winter brings skiing and snowboarding to the area. The hiking paths include routes to the Hochmoor moorlands and connect to the Via Alpina long-distance trail network. Many trails suit day hikers, with clear signs showing walking times and difficulty levels.
Sherlock Holmes Museum and Cultural Sites
Located in the basement of a former English church, the Sherlock Holmes Museum includes an exact replica of the 221B Baker Street sitting room. The exhibits detail Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's connection to Meiringen and the creation of his famous detective. Look for the bronze Holmes statue outside the museum entrance.
Transportation
Meiringen connects the Grimsel, Susten, and Brünig mountain passes. The narrow-gauge railway runs hourly trains to Interlaken and Lucerne. PostBus services link Meiringen to villages throughout the Eastern Oberland, making it easy to explore the region's mountain passes and valleys.
