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Switzerland Adelboden. Photo by ishai01.

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Adelboden

Adelboden is a Swiss mountain village and municipality in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district of the Bernese Highlands. Adelboden was first mentioned in 1409, 613 years ago. It was mentioned as valle Adelboden.

Adelboden’s alps Engstligenalp and Silleren are mentioned for the first time in the 13th century. Engstligental’s residents are known as forest people. Adelboden got its own church in the 15th century, with over 50 housefathers vouching for the minister’s salary.

When Adelboden joined the Reformation in the 16th century, the Catholic priest fled over the Hahnenmoospass to the Catholic Canton of Fribourg. Until the nineteenth century, the only way to Frutigen was up on the south slope of the Engstligen Valley, which was frequently impassable in winter. In the late 1800s, a road along the Entschlige River was built, connecting Adelboden to the rest of the world.

One of the local teachers opened the first boarding house in the 1870s. It evolved into a hotel, which is still owned by the same family (hotel Hari im Schlegeli). Tourism resulted in a significant increase in population around the turn of the century.

Sir Henry Lunn organized the first packaged winter sports holidays (vacations) in Adelboden in 1903.

1. Adelboden overlooks waterfalls

Adelboden Waterfalls Scenery. Photo by welcomia.

Adelboden is located in the western Bernese Highlands, at the head of the valley of the Entschlige (High German: Engstlige), which flows into the Kander in Frutigen.

Adelboden is a traditional Swiss mountain village on a terrace with views of the Engstligen waterfalls to the south. The inhabited valleys of Gilbach, Stigelschwand, Boden, Hirzboden, and Ausserschwand are also included in the village. The church and main street are at 1,350 m (4,430 ft), the highest point in the area is the Grossstrubel at 3,242 m (10,636 ft), and the lowest point is in the Engstligen valley at 1,045 m (3,428 ft).

The vegetation is alpine and sub-alpine, partially wooded, with alpine meadows on the slopes, plateaus, and terraces.

2. Adelboden is surrounded by mountains

Wildstrubel and Engstlige falls, seen from Adelboden. Photo by Irmgard (assumed).

The most notable mountains are:

• the Lohner (3,049 m (10,003 ft)),
• Steghorn (3,146 m (10,322 ft)),
• Wildstrubel (3,243 m (10,640 ft)),
• Fitzer (2,458 m (8,064 ft)),
• Tschenten (2,025 m (6,644 ft)) (mountain railway),
• Albristhorn (2,762 m (9,062 ft)and 
• Gsur (2,708 m (8,885 ft))

3. Adelboden is home to a gorge

The Choleren Gorge is characterized by craggy cliffs and enchanting cascades that flow through the forest. Bridges and stairways have been built along the 100-metre-long gorge to allow visitors to better appreciate the beauty of the waterfalls, twisting turns, water mills, and rock faces polished by centuries of erosion.

A one-hour hike from Adelboden to the gorge takes you through Ausserschwand. The best way to explore the gorge is to start at the bottom and work your way up. This route is safer and provides the best views. This excursion can be combined with a visit to the Pochtenkessel. The waters of the Engstlige and Otterebach rivers merge here to form a deep, hollowed-out natural cauldron. And to cap off the day, why not take a refreshing dip in the Jungbrunnen (youth fountain) pool just below the gorge?

4. Adelboden has 45 kilometers of trotti-trails

Motor less scooter. Photo by Scott Evans.

5. Every year, around 40,000 people attend the FIS Ski World Cup in Adelboden

Top view of people skating on snow. Photo by Toa Heftiba.

6. There is a giant swing at Adelboden

A girl on a swing. Photo by anyaberkut.

Head back, feet first, the momentum of the swing propels you high into the air. At the mountain station, 1940 meters above sea level, on the giant swing sees the mountains from an unusual vantage point. A photograph should not be omitted.

The Giant Swing is the best place in Adelboden for a spectacular selfie. Whether in the summer or winter, the Giant Swing is ready for you!

7. The AFA has been operating public transportation between Frutigen and Adelboden

Adelboden has only one incoming road from Frutigen, which connects to the A6 and Bern via Spiez. Frutigen is a train station on the Lötschberg line that connects to Bern and Brig; it is serviced by regular post buses to Adelboden.

The Bunderchrinde Pass connects Adelboden to Kandersteg to the east, while the Hahnenmoos Pass connects Adelboden to the Lenk valley to the west. An old mountain pass route connects the Engstligenalp and the Chindbetti Pass to the Gemmi Pass and the Valais.

None of these passes carry roads, though they were once used as trade routes. The Bunderchrinde and Hahnenmoos passes are now part of the Alpine Pass Route, a long-distance hiking trail that runs through the village between Sargans and Montreux. 

8. Adelboden tourism is geared toward families

There are 24 hotels (1,291 beds), 3,800 vacation homes (15,200 beds), 28 group accommodations (1,830 beds), three camp sites, and 40 restaurants in Adelboden.

9. Hiking in the company of goats at Adelboden

A goat in the meadow. Photo by michael meijer.

Hiking is a beautiful activity. It’s even better when combined with goats. Sabina Bircher from Adelboden and her shaggy goats offer a great animal trekking from the Hahnenmoos Pass every Thursday. The hike through the mountain world is an unforgettable experience for both young and old!

10. Our Chalet is located just outside Adelboden

Our chalet – exterior. Photo by Greg Willis.

Our Chalet is an international Girl Guide/Girl Scout center and one of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts’ five World Centres (WAGGGS). Our Chalet is located in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, just outside Adelboden.  It is 1,350 meters (4,430 feet) above sea level and is located in the Bernese Alps.