Schilthorn and the revolving summit above Lauterbrunnen
Published on 09/23/2026 at 02:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Schilthorn rises to 2,970 m (9,744 ft) above the Lauterbrunnen valley, with the revolving restaurant Piz Gloria on its summit. The mountain’s visible centre is therefore both Alpine ridge and circular building, a combination that connects high-altitude scenery with the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Schilthorn: a summit with a moving building
The summit building is Piz Gloria, a restaurant whose dining area rotates while the surrounding peaks remain fixed. The structure sits above the rocky mountain landscape, with wide views towards the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Its circular form is easy to distinguish from the ridges and snowfields around it.
The mountain belongs to the Bernese Oberland and rises above Mürren and the Lauterbrunnen valley. Schilthorn’s summit elevation is 2,970 metres, placing the restaurant high above the valley settlements and their steep cliffs.
From Lauterbrunnen valley to the Bernese Alps
Schilthorn is reached through a chain of mountain stations rather than by a road to the summit. The route from Stechelberg runs through Gimmelwald, MĂĽrren and Birg before reaching Piz Gloria.
MĂĽrren is a mountain village above Lauterbrunnen, while Birg occupies a much higher station on the ascent. The cableway system connects these places with the summit and gives the mountain a clearly defined relationship with the valley below. The route through Birg ends at Piz Gloria, at 2,970 metres above sea level.
James Bond, Piz Gloria and Alpine film history
Schilthorn became part of cinema history in 1969, when On Her Majesty’s Secret Service used the summit and surrounding locations. Piz Gloria appears as the mountain headquarters of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, giving the restaurant a second identity in popular culture.
The film connection remains tied to the building itself, not only to the mountain panorama. The circular restaurant, the cableway arrival and the exposed summit form a recognisable setting. The 1969 film location links Schilthorn with one of the best-known Alpine appearances in the Bond series. The mountain combines a named historical date, a modern summit building and the physical scale of the Bernese Alps.
Visiting Schilthorn: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Schilthorn lies above Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland. The cableway route begins at Stechelberg and passes through Gimmelwald, MĂĽrren and Birg.
- The summit stands at 2,970 m (9,744 ft). The final setting is high Alpine terrain, with exposed rock, steep slopes and mountain weather.
- Lauterbrunnen connects with Mürren through Grütschalp and the Lauterbrunnen–Mürren mountain railway. Stechelberg provides the valley route towards the Schilthorn cableways.
- The official language is German and the currency is the Swiss franc.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
Searching for Schilthorn on social platforms
These links open searches for Schilthorn on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Schilthorn
Where is Schilthorn?
Schilthorn is a 2,970 m (9,744 ft) mountain above the Lauterbrunnen valley in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. Mürren and Birg lie along the cableway route to the summit.
What can visitors expect at the summit?
The summit contains Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant, together with high Alpine views and exposed mountain terrain. The surrounding peaks include the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Why is Schilthorn associated with James Bond?
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service used the summit and Piz Gloria in 1969. The building represented Blofeld’s mountain headquarters in the film.
