Arrival in Wengen, Switzerland, begins aboard a charming yellow-and-green panoramic train. Perched at 1,274 metres above sea level, the town owes its reputation to the Lauberhorn races, held annually for nearly a century. The mountain, which shares its name with the competition, hosts the longest downhill ski run in the world, measuring 4,455 metres. Then, in 1969, the village of 1,000 inhabitants gained further fame by serving as the setting for the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. But beyond this popularity sparked by the big screen, Wengen is said to be the starting point of Tolkien’s imagination. The author is believed to have drawn inspiration from this Alpine valley to create the unique world of The Lord of the Rings. His visit dates back to 1911, when…