Jungfraujoch, where a railway enters the high Alpine ice
Published on 09/24/2026 at 05:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jungfraujoch is a high Alpine saddle between the Jungfrau and Mönch in Switzerland. Rock, glacier ice and an underground railway meet at an elevation of about 3,454 metres (11,332 ft), creating a mountain destination unlike a conventional summit viewpoint.
Jungfraujoch between Jungfrau and Mönch
The saddle lies in the Bernese Alps, on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais. Its pass rises to about 3,463 metres (11,362 ft), while the railway station and visitor buildings occupy a slightly lower position within the ridge.
The surrounding landscape belongs to the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch area, a UNESCO World Heritage area. The upper Aletsch Glacier spreads across the southern side of the saddle, surrounded by the high peaks and snowfields of the Bernese Alps.
The Jungfrau Railway inside the mountain
The Jungfrau Railway reached Jungfraujoch in 1912 after construction began on 27 July 1896. The line climbs from Kleine Scheidegg, crosses a major height difference and runs through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch.
The first passenger train reached the station on 1 August 1912. The railway remains the defining piece of infrastructure at Jungfraujoch, because the arrival takes place inside the mountain rather than beside a conventional open-air platform. The railway’s 1912 opening belongs to the history of Swiss mountain transport.
At the station, tunnels and galleries connect the railway with visitor spaces, viewing areas and routes towards the surrounding snow. The material changes from engineered interior surfaces to exposed rock, ice and open Alpine terrain.
From the station to the Sphinx
The Sphinx is a rocky prominence above Jungfraujoch, rising to about 3,571 metres (11,716 ft). Its observatory contains scientific facilities and a viewing terrace above the station complex.
A lift connects the station area with the Sphinx terrace. From there, the view includes the Aletsch Glacier and a wide field of peaks, while the saddle itself remains visible as a narrow meeting point between the Jungfrau and Mönch.
The glacier is part of the physical identity of Jungfraujoch. Ice lies beside buildings, tunnels and rock faces, making the site a combination of natural high mountain terrain and infrastructure. The Jungfrau Railway history links the modern visitor complex with the line completed in 1912.
Visiting Jungfraujoch: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Jungfraujoch lies between Jungfrau and Mönch in the Bernese Alps. The Jungfrau Railway reaches it from Kleine Scheidegg.
- The station stands at about 3,454 metres (11,332 ft), where altitude, rock and glacier terrain form the setting.
- The Sphinx terrace is reached by lift from the station complex. The Aletsch Glacier lies beyond the viewing areas.
- The official language is German, French, Italian and Romansh, and the currency is the Swiss franc.
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Frequently asked questions about Jungfraujoch
Where is Jungfraujoch?
Jungfraujoch is a high mountain saddle between the Jungfrau and Mönch in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps. It lies on the boundary between Bern and Valais.
What can visitors expect at Jungfraujoch?
Visitors find an underground railway station, tunnels, viewing areas, the Sphinx terrace, exposed rock and nearby glacier terrain. The station is about 3,454 metres above sea level.
What makes Jungfraujoch distinctive?
The site combines a railway inside the mountain with a glacier saddle and the Sphinx observatory. The Jungfrau Railway reached Jungfraujoch in 1912.
