Memory Lane: Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe

Back in 2016, I set off on a journey to Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe,” high in the Swiss Alps. Starting in Wilderswil, I took the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen, then switched to the Wengernalp Railway up to Kleine Scheidegg. From there, the cogwheel Jungfrau Railway took me through a mountain tunnel to the summit station at 3,454 metres.

We stopped at a viewpoint station to take in the views and fresh alpine air. At the summit, snow and ice stretched out with the Aletsch Glacier shimmering under clear skies. I explored the Ice Palace carved inside the glacier and walked outside in the snow for the first time on alpine terrain, snapping photos against the stunning backdrop.

The Sphinx Observatory at Jungfraujoch is said to have inspired the fictional Akademie Zubrowka, the mountain hotel in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). Its distinctive shape and remote location reflect the film’s alpine setting.

At the summit, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven shop offers a sweet stop — the highest Lindt store in the world, perfect for souvenirs or a treat after exploring the glaciers.

Standing there, surrounded by glaciers and peaks, I was reminded how raw and real the Alps are. Jungfraujoch isn’t just a destination — it’s an experience you don’t forget.