Interlaken is in the German-speaking heart of Switzerland. It offers winter sports’ fans access to some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps. Skiers will have their base in a service-packed small city in a spectacular lakeside setting.

Traditionally a ‘Summer’ resort, Interlaken had long been attractive to winter sports enthusiasts.

This is because of two main reasons:

• its prime location
• its excellent hotels and other facilities offer very low rates during the winter

However, this resort’s status became ‘official’ with the launch of The Jungfrau Top Ski Region. This region contains more than 100 miles of trails in ski centers above Grindelwald. They are all linked to Interlaken by a mountain railway. Your ski pass includes the railway fee. The average length of runs in the area is a remarkable four – nine miles. With the pass, it’s possible to ski a different ski area every day for a week.

The name ‘Interlaken’ actually means “between the lakes” – Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

Water is omnipresent throughout the area. The view is breathtaking, with idyllic clear mountain streams and waterfalls running off the hills and into the lakes.

The resort offers dozens of water-based activities throughout the year. If you ever have enough of sliding on the cold white variety, you can always enjoy anything from a cruise on a lake steamer to just feeding the ducks or even frog watching!

Visitors first started arriving at Interlaken long before downhill skiing was conceived. One of them, Lord Byron, famously remarked “it’s a dream” on first seeing the town. The first hotels opened their doors in 1806, complementing the existing monastery hospice. This hospice is now the four-star hotel Interlaken. Boom years began in the 1860s. Much of the beautiful architecture and grand design date from this 50-year era up to the First World War. The impressive exteriors hide equally impressive modern interiors, so Interlaken offers the best of old and new.

In the early days, when the likes of Goethe and Mendelssohn popped by, Interlaken was famous for its healthy climate, as well as the spectacular views.