Meiringen

Meiringen is a municipality in the canton of Bern, located in the Bernese Oberland at the foot of the Alps, close to the Grimsel and Susten mountain passes. The village is internationally known for its connection to Sherlock Holmes: the nearby Reichenbach Falls, reachable by funicular from the village, are the setting Arthur Conan Doyle chose for the confrontation between Holmes and Professor Moriarty. A Sherlock Holmes museum in the village tells the story of this episode and the character's legacy. Also nearby is the Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht), a natural canyon carved by the river, fitted with walkways that allow visitors to walk alongside the rock walls. The surrounding area offers a mountain setting well suited to hiking in summer and winter sports once the snow arrives, with several ski areas accessible from the village. Meiringen is also a stopping point on the alpine pass route, popular with motorcyclists and cyclists during the summer season. The village retains traditional Bernese architecture, with wooden chalets typical of the region. Its best-known local speciality is the meringue, traditionally said to have originated here.