Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Swiss Alps of Switzerland is a place that has inspired many stories, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, written by J.R.R Tolkien. Like the legendary elf settlement of Rivendell in those novels, there are appealing features to be found here – an unusually narrow valley floor hemmed into steep alpine cliffs, dotted with numerous spectacular waterfalls. This area became popular among mountain climbers and hikers at the beginning of the 20th century. Author Tolkien hiked through the valley in 1911, as the valley remains a popular tourist destination for explorers to continue discovering hidden gems of inspiration.
