The Reichenbach Falls are just outside the village of Meirigen (595 m). Here Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put an end to the adventures of his most charismatic character, Sherlock Holmes, who plunged down the 250 m waterfall with his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
Being the scene of the death (but later resurrected due to popular pressure) of one of the most famous literary characters in British literature has meant that Meirigen has grown up in the shadow of this fame, with memorial statues and even streets such as Baker Street.
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Meirigen is also famous for being the birthplace of meringues, a famous sweet created by the Italian confectioner Gasparini a few centuries ago.
Reichenbach Funicular
Although you can walk to the Reichenbach Falls, it is much quicker and more comfortable to take the Grimselwelt funicular.
It is a red wooden funicular that is an exact replica of the first funicular that went up to the Reichenbach waterfalls back in 1899. The ride takes just 10 minutes and crosses a beautiful forest while rapidly gaining altitude. Halfway up, the single track forks to allow the funicular to pass through on its way down.
The truth is that the feeling of being in the last century is quite intense thanks to the nostalgia evoked by the funicular, not to mention that Holmes, Moriarty and Watson are in your subconscious all the time.
Sherlock Holmes Falls
After exiting the funicular you will hear the sound of the water cascading down. As if that were not enough in this initial section of the path, it is advisable to pass quickly if you don’t want to end up wet, although be careful, because the ground is very wet and slippery. If you want to take photos, it is best to take a waterproof camera or cover yourself with an umbrella. In any case, there are platforms and viewpoints to take beautiful pictures of Reichenbach.
The path crosses a forest and climbs gradually and in about fifteen minutes you reach the first viewpoint from where there is a spectacular view of the waterfall.
It is a short climb and perfectly accessible for small children, although it is not advisable to take pushchairs.
The path continues upwards passing other platforms and getting closer and closer to the different waterfalls (seven in total), until it crosses them definitively. From the last viewpoint we will walk up the path for five minutes until we cross the road and continue up some stairs to the Zwirgi hotel. From its terrace you can enjoy fantastic views of the Hasli valley.