Just across the valley from Wengen is the tiny village of Isenfluh. We get there on a little bus from Lauterbrunnen.

It’s very pretty, and also very quiet.

For many years the only way to get here was via a steep mountain footpath. Then, in 1962 a road was built connecting the village with Lauterbrunnen. There’s also a small cable car which takes hikers up to the hamlet of Sulwald. It has capacity for 8 people, or 1 cow.

There’s very little else here. The village shop closed in 1969. In 1987 disaster struck. A landslide destroyed the road from Lauterbrunnen. The evidence can still be clearly seen today.

A temporary cable car was built providing access to the valley. A new road was commissioned, which eventually opened in 1992. It is said that the villagers held a three day long party to celebrate. However, despite the 10 million francs spent on the road, the population of Isenfluh remains alarmingly low. Historical census data paints a depressing picture.

• 1880 – population 176
• 1900 – 145
• 1920 – 118
• 1941 – 86
• 1972 – 42
• 1982 – 53
• 1995 – 70
• 2012 – 56
• 2024 – 69

In an attempt to make the village a more attractive proposition, the local council has made plots of building land available at attractive terms. There’s a big advert at the bus stop.

We can only wish the council the best of luck in their attempts to keep Isenfluh alive. We continue our walk down to Lauterbrunnen, passing the huge torrent known as the Sousbach.

Down in the valley, a hydro-electric plant is under construction to harness power from the Sousbach. A nice walk on a very warm day.