A secret European village known for its stunning scenery inspired J.R.R.
Tolkien when writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The English author designed the now-famous Elven land of Rivendell following a hiking trip in Switzerland in 1911. Speaking about the journey Tolkien said: "From Rivendell to the other side of the Misty Mountains, the journey.
.. including the glissade down the slithering stones into the pine woods.
.. is based on my adventures in Switzerland in 1911.
" Mountain and fantasy experts have often debated that the majestic, soaring peaks of Switzerland's southwest, in particular the town of Lauterbrunnen, provided Tolkien the colour and beauty to bring parts of Middle Earth to life. Adventurers and fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have visited the area and trekked through the valleys to try and emulate the fantasy experience. Tolkien was just 19 when he visited the stunning region in Switzerland more than 110 years ago, before he became an English professor at the University of Oxford and one of the most celebrated authors the country has ever produced.
He never returned to the area but it certainly made an huge impression on his writing. Lauterbrunnen, located in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, was one of the areas the author visited and is understood to be a direct inspiration for the settlement of Rivendell. In Tolkien's fictional universe, Rivendell represents a homely place of sanctuary and a magical Elvish otherworld, stacked imposs.