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TOURISM

Swiss village forced to restrict visitor numbers after Netflix success

The quaint Swiss village of Iseltwald has been forced to limit the number of tourists after fans of a South Korean Netflix hit show flocked to the region in droves sparking a backlash from locals.

Published: 19 May 2023 15:47 CEST
Swiss village forced to restrict visitor numbers after Netflix success
A picture taken on June 2, 2023 shows the village of Iseltwald at the shore of Lake Brienz, in the Swiss Alps. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Iseltwald is often referred to as the pearl of Lake Brienz, and rightfully so. The fishing village is located on the left bank of the river and is one of the smallest communities in the canton of Bern – and locals would like to keep it that way.

However, with its crystal-clear lake and breath-taking mountain backdrop, Iseltwald also caught the eye of Netflix whose 2019 hit series Crash Landing on You partly takes place in the quaint village.

The show centres around a wealthy South Korean businesswoman who – following a paragliding incident – finds herself in North Kora where she encounters and eventually falls in love with a North Korean officer.

Many of the scenes, including the final and arguably most romantic scene, were filmed in the Bernese Oberland – much to the frustration of its 397 residents who have since struggled with roadblocks due to inconveniently parked tour buses and tourist numbers getting out of hand.

This has prompted the municipality to introduce further measures to ensure locals feel comfortable and tourists contribute to the economy.

Stricter rules for coaches

According to the municipality, to visit Iseltwald by coach you will have to make an online reservation in advance via https://portal.wyby.ch/lessors/iseltwald/

You will need to pay directly by credit card at the time of booking. Coaches must arrive and depart during their booked timeframe and must not stay parked longer than 2 hours.

Note that visiting Iseltwald by coach without a reservation is prohibited and therefore punishable by law – so, if you can’t find an available time slot you will not be allowed to visit the area by coach as there are no drop off zones.

The following time slots apply:

8 am to 10 am

10 am to 12 pm

1 pm to 3 pm

3 pm to 5 pm

5 pm to 7 pm starting June 1st 2023

But some exceptions apply…

However, the municipality has slightly more lax rules in place for overnight guests and boat owners.

Groupe arriving to the village by coach for more than a selfie stay – for example a visit to a restaurant or an overnight stay – can pass through free of charge.

There is one exception to the fees for the coaches: groups that not only drive to the village for a short photo stop, but also spend the night there or visit a restaurant can pass through free of charge.

If you happen to own a boat, you are also allowed to dock as usual. You can also pick up a token for the turnstile at the restaurants or the village shop which will allow you to return to your boat for free.

Beware the selfie fee

Yes, you heard that right. In order to discourage the queue build-up around the 7-metre-long pier – the set of a beloved couple’s piano scene – the municipality has introduced a selfie fee.

If you wish to take a selfie on the popular pier, you will owe the village five francs and if you feel the need to use the toilet, well that’ll be one franc please. The municipality has also installed two turnstiles to regulate access to the tourist attraction.

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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Stunning Swiss village plans to charge visitors to experience ‘Middle Earth’

A small Swiss village that claims it was the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's ‘The Lord of the Rings’ has sparked a row with its plans to charge visitors to enter.

Published: 16 May 2024 12:17 CEST
Stunning Swiss village plans to charge visitors to experience 'Middle Earth'

Amidst the ongoing popularity of Peter Jackson’s film adaptations and Amazon’s ‘Rings of Power’, which have kept Tolkien’s tales of Middle Earth alive in the public imagination, Swiss media is reporting that Lauterbrunnen in the canton of Bern plans to charge visitors arriving by car a daily fee of between 5 and 10 CHF.

The move comes as part of efforts to reduce congestion in the small village, maintain its unique atmosphere and boost the local economy. 

It echoes similar decisions by tourist hotspots such as Venice to control visitor numbers through a similar daily fee. 

However, the fee is not without exceptions. Those arriving by public transport or staying in the town’s hotels would be exempt.

Middle Earth’s Swiss origins in Lauterbrunnen

One does not simply walk into Mordor – but in 1911, a 19 year old Tolkien arrived in the small village, located in the valley of the same name and framed by famous peaks such as the Jungfrau and the Eiger.

Prior to his service in World War One, Tolkien spent a length of time in Europe studying language and history. 

His wanderings, and the sights he encountered, shaped the fabric of Middle Earth. 

Such was the impression Lauterbrunnen made upon him that he’d never forget it. 

Writing to his son decades later, following worldwide acclaim for his tales of Middle Earth, he stated: 

“I am delighted that you have made the acquaintance of Switzerland, and of the very part that I once knew best and which had the deepest effect on me. 

“The hobbit’s journey from Rivendell to the other side of the Misty Mountains, including the glissade down the slithering stones into the pine woods, is based on my adventures in 1911.”

The village of Lauterbrunnen itself, seemingly built into the mountainside, and framed by waterfalls, is thought to be the chief inspiration for the Elvish city of Rivendell.

This is the location where plans were forged to destroy the ‘One Ring’ in the fires of Mount Doom. 

The nearby Silberhorn mountain is also widely cited as to be Tolkien’s reference point for Celebdil, the mountain where the wizard Gandalf fought the monstrous Balrog, a fiery demon with massive wings. 

It comprises a critical location in the second book in the trilogy, ‘The Two Towers’ – and seemingly where the beloved wizard seemingly fell to his death.

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