December 14, 2012

Mürren: a century of downhill skiing

The Swiss ski resort that claims to be the birthplace of modern downhill skiing is celebrating the opening of the funicular railway that opened up the Alps to early winter sports enthusiasts

Mürren skiing: A view of Mürren — A scenic view of Mürren in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. Photograph: Jon Arnold/Getty

Mürren skiing: Backcountry skier — A backcountry skier on the Jungfrau near Mürren, Switzerland. Photograph: John Norris/Corbis

Mürren skiing: Mürren peaks — Mürren perches on the edge of the Lauterbrunnen valley, near Interlaken. The village looks across to the famous Eiger, Münch and Jungfrau peaks, and the ski resort boasts its own world famous ski station, the Piz Gloria, or Schilthorn. Photograph: James Fraser/ Rex Features

Murren skiing: Children skiing above Murren — Young skiers practice above Murren. In the background are three famous Alpine peaks: the Eiger on the left, Monch and Jungfrau on right. Photograph: Brian Harris /Rex Features

Mürren skiing: Apres-ski at a restaurant — Enjoying the apres-ski and a view of the mounatins at a Mürren restaurant Photograph: Alamy

Mürren skiing: Piz Gloria restaurant — A panoramic view of the Piz Gloria restaurant, near Mürren. Reportedly the world's first revolving restaurant, the building was used as a James Bond film location in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Photograph: PR

Mürren skiing: Inside the Piz Gloria — Skiers take in the view from inside the Piz Gloria restaurant. Photograph: PR

Mürren Palace — A German poster from the 1930's advertising the Mürren Palace Hotel, and the promise of sunset skiing. Photograph: Getty Images

Mürren skiing: Royalty Enjoying Ski Trip — Belgian royalty on holiday in Mürren in 1929. From left to right, Queen Elizabeth, King Albert, Arnold Lunn, and Princess Marie Jose of Belgium. Between the wars, Mürren was the place to be seen – the Davos or St Moritz of its day. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Mürren skiing: Elizabeth, Queen of Belgium, Skating with Duff Taylor — Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, an ice skating enthusiast, with Captain Duff Taylor in Mürren, 1929. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

Night skiier at Mürren in the Alps — A night skiier at Mürren in the Swiss Alps Photograph: Stephane Godin/Corbis

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