The Sledding Paradise

The absolute Grindelwald classic is the descent from Bussalp via the alpine road—through Steintor and Weidli-Bar to the village. From Weidli-Bar, the Bus will take you back up to Bussalp two or three times. Day tickets for the bus rides, including sled rental, are available.

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Sledding from snowy Alpine mountains

The Velogemel

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Today, we are used to seeing modern machines quickly clearing fresh snow from roads and paths. In the past, it was not so easy for valley dwellers to get around in deep snow in winter. For Christian Bühlmann, a woodcarver and woodcutter from Grindelwald with limited mobility, it was too arduous to walk home from his weekly rehearsals with the village band. He wanted to solve this problem and thus became the inventor of the Velo-Gemel.

Christian Bühlmann used a bicycle in the summer. So he thought about how this principle could be applied to a sled. More than 110 years ago, in 1911, he built himself a kind of snow bike that would get him to his destination faster on flat and downhill routes – the bicycle sled. A wooden frame with two runners instead of wheels. Controlled by a handlebar, it allowed the rider to move forward by sitting down and pushing off with their feet. Similar to the first bicycle invented by the Baden forestry official Karl von Drais, who called it a running machine.

Two girls and a boy ride on traditional wooden sledges in the snow in a village with wooden houses.
Two people ride down a snow-covered slope with mountains in the background on wooden sledges.

Based on the Grindelwald dialect word “Gemel” for sled, the locals soon began calling the bicycle sled a Velogemel. Even today, the Velogemel is still used for everyday tasks when snow conditions are right.

However, the Velogemel is increasingly becoming a piece of sports equipment and a collector's item. Sledding is very popular in Grindelwald, and Velogemel riders are often seen on the sledding trails. Since 1996, Grindelwald has even hosted an annual world championship in Velogemel riding. Velogemel are not used anywhere else in Switzerland. However, as a unique product, Velogemel are sold throughout Switzerland and around the world.

Contact & Reservations

Plan your visit to Bussalp with ease. Whether it’s a quick lunch, a private event or a sunset dinner, we’re here to help you reserve and answer any questions.

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