Zermatt | Iconic Swiss Alpine Town Beneath the Legendary Matterhorn.

Zermatt is a beautiful and prestigious tourist resort well known to be an iconic Swiss Alpine town beneath the legendary Matterhorn,a peak which with its charming and imposing silhouette is one of the most scenic and wonderful mounts of the Alps which captured since a long time ago the preferences of all people who loves not only Winter Sports but also the immense appeal of the Alps in the most pure essence.

With its  approximately 5,900 inhabitants located in the Canton du Valais in the fabulous valley of Mattertal at the foot of that emblematic mountain also called Cervino in Italian language at an altitude of 1620,0 metres in  the Upper Valais and part of the district of Visp.

The resort exactly stands exactly beside that famous and emblematic peak which with its 4478,0 metres it is the core of that huge ski complex including the famous Italian resort of Cervinia.For many people that place it  is one of the most popular and exclusive ski resorts destination of Switzerland next to Sankt Moritz Davos and Gstaad but it also certainly represents much more.


The history of Zermatt is pretty old and the first records are dated the middle ages and concretely the year 1280.In that period the current resort was a small village in the Alps of Switzerland composed by an agglomeration of approximately 30 wooden houses and the inhabitants were mainly dedicated to the breeding of cows,farmers and collecting milk with a consequent local dairy activity.

For many years the local population fought to have freedom by the noble families who established there a strong feudalistic system and the lion represented in the Coat of Arms of the municipality recalls the achievement of independence and the desire for freedom of its inhabitants reached in the year 1618.

After the mid-19th century Zermatt with the other prestigious resorts such as  Chamonix Mont Blanc in France,Courmayeur and Macugnaga in Italy became the capital of mountaineering practised by high class people mainly English,French and German tourists fond about that passion linked to the high mountain mainly highlighted by that spirit to live experiences extremely exciting climbing peaks over the 4000,0 metres of altitude and that emblematic site was probably one which was an absolute protagonist regarding that trend.

The centre of the town is mainly arranged behind the river Matter Vispa flanked by two long streets such as Bachstrasse and Matterstrasse.The historic municipal core is enclosed among Banhofstrasse,  Hoffmattstrasse and Englischer Viertel the latter street is that one which directly leads to St.Mauritius Pfarkirche the Parish Church and Matterhorn Museum. 


You can start a visit from there with St.Mauritius Kirche which is pretty young Church dedicated to St.Maurice and developed in the year 1913 despite there was on its foundations a previous Sacred building since medieval times erected in the year 1285.In the 16th century that former Sacred construction was
modelled and re arranged several times by Gothic and Baroque architectonic works including in its interior.

The history of that new Church is pretty peculiar because in that year of the early 20th century when it was erected many local people did not want a new eligious site but after voting was established to build that Temple for the local community.It was painted in the year 1920 and five years later was added a clock to its current tower.

The building despite its modern establishment has a lovely aspect with an ample facade and a portico formed by two columns and three charming arcades and behind the main body lies a stoned bell tower highlighted by its long spire placed on a square base and topped by a Cross.
 
Zermatt is well known and so famous to host the Matterhorn Museum located under a glass dome which was the Casino next to that Church.That exhibition consists in a great and outstanding narration through photos,documentations and objects of the history of all there was ad there is at the foot of the Matterhorn from the beginning of the establishment of the first settlement when Zermatt was as a small hamlet until the arrival of the first climbers.

During the visit you will learn in a great step by step all the stages introducing the history of that expedition team in occasion of the first and legendary ascent to the Matterhorn in the year 1865 which had a tragic outcome.

In addition that iconic Institution also provides an extensive visual reconstruction of Zermatt in the 19th century giving the visitor the opportunity to discover all what that place was in those times at the foot of a  mountain which represented a sort of dream since that century and so special in every aspect for something which has always been a sort of magnetic attraction for a multitude of people which wanted to reach the current resort and much more the summit of that stupendous peak as the coronation of a magic trip.

Undoubtedly that Swiss centre is characterised and you will immediately notice that by its  prestigious popularity consisting in luxury and comfortable Hotels,splendid and unique ski tracks,an active centre also in terms of shopping and leisure,a wide selection of fine restaurants,an outstanding service in terms of promotion, outstanding information services and a multitude of facilities simply superb.

Perfectly prepared to receive high flows of incoming thanks to an old considerable tradition focused since at the beginning of its history in the world of tourism to offer a total satisfaction to the customer with its impeccable and distinguished infrastructures and accommodations highly appreciated and boasting a distinctive reputation over the media.


Despite all that,the Swiss town has preserved its typical aspect of Alpine village in the Valais with a clever plan of regulation in terms of construction of big buildings conserving its natural charming aspect and also that was a winning key to attract year by year a multitude of people who can find in that resort something of authentic in which the word artificial is not a highlight or a factor which has altered its natural image.

The town is very popular in Switzerland and abroad for its clean atmosphere and uncontaminated air and Zermatt access is especially forbidden for cars which can be parked in the village of Täsch located at approximately 6,0 kilometres from the resort.

From there the local institutions provides a shuttle train with a frequency of every 20 minutes preserving risks of heavy traffic and furthermore the contamination. Zermatt in addition is connected by a railway line to Visp and Brig and it is also the starting point of the wonderful Glacier Express.

That spectacular tourist train through Switzerland with the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn opened in 1891 which operates the Glacier Express line with the Rhaetian Railway and crossing the Canton of Graubünden stations of Davos and St. Moritz (If you are interested I wrote a post about those two other great resorts) is certainly a great experience for every tourist enjoying a trip across the most fabulous Alpine scenery crossing gorges,high vertical rocky walls,immaculate forests and reaching altitudes extremely fascinating apart having as stages iconic resorts during its itinerary.

An important and emblematic highlight linked to that legendary peak is that Zermatt thanks to it it is so famed to be the birthplace of mountaineering visible in the museum previously mentioned.


That challenging activity which is deeply rooted in the local culture as an indelible mark which is part of the the history of the resort and so famous for people who wrote some of the most beautiful pages of the history of  the conquest of the most important Alpine peaks but also for sad and and tragic events,one in particular when in the year 1865 during the first descent from the summit of the Matterhorn four mountaineers tragically died.

The Matterhorn is undoubtedly the iconic symbol of Zermatt and one of the most distinctive pictures of Switzerland,definitely one of the most beautiful and fascinating peaks in the world and certainly the most photographed and the most loved by climbers.

That legendary mount is unique in its kind simply at the first sight for its majestic appearance,no other peaks in all the Alps has the same charm or similar silhouette and for all that it is so special,a paradise and dream for all climbers and an authentic icon for all people who loves the Alps also for all what they are able to transmit simply just with a glance.

That distinctive Alpine giant is a sort of pyramid formed by four walls,three in Switzerland and one in Italy.The southern wall is very large and dominating Cervinia in the border corresponding to the Italian side crossed by numerous canals while the western section is the wildest and secluded showing an impressive vertical steep wall.The northern side is where is highlighted by the severe glacier with the Grandes Jorasses Eiger the dream of  the climbers since the 30s.

The eastern wall for its picturesque image shows probably the most charming face of that superb mountain and it appears most frequently in special images,post cards,magazines,tourist brochures and promotional spots.

On 14th July 1865 the Matterhorn was climbed for the first time by Edward Whymper but during that famous expedition four of those seven people tragically died,that episode marked a tragic event but never
deleted the desire to return there by a myriad of people.The impression has always been as around that monumental masterpiece of nature exists a distinguished aura able to call more and more as a siren song,nothing stopped the flows because that image once saw it is as imprinted in the eyes and memories of everybody.

For visitors with less climbing skills there are some walls with minor coefficients of difficulty in all the surroundings and another attraction for who loves the high mountains are those over 500,0 kilometres of trails leading to other mountains around Zermatt with several easier climbs.

The Region is also famous for all people fond about mountaineering for the presence of the Zermatt Haute Route,a very demanding international itinerary for trips of some days leading to the Mont Blanc area crossing magnificent corners of the most scenic Western Alpine environment ending that spectacular tour to the father of that mountainous chain in the heart of the Graian Alps.
That magnificent destination is also more than famed for its Ski facilities and services offering a huge area of over  350,0 kilometres of slopes and culminating at 3900,0 metres of altitude with the Zermatt Bergbahnen on which the visitor can enjoy stunning views of the Matterhorn,the Monte Rosa and other important and famous Alpine giants.
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One of the other main activity apart climbing in Zermatt is Alpine Ski with The vast ski area of Matterhorn Ski Paradise is a fantastic huge complex which is subdivided into several zones for skiing in winter and hiking in summer and they are Matterhorn Glacier Paradise,Rothorn Paradise, Paradise,Sunegga Paradise, Schwarzsee Paradise and  Gornegrat. 

The great Ski Complex provides 64 ski lifts,there are many Blue and Red slopes,the blue tracks for beginners are mainly in Sunnegga-Rothorn and also some in Gornergrat with furthermore a couple in Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Complex which is is the highest point accessible on skis reaching the Klein Matterhorn at 3883,0 metres of altitude.

 The rest are mainly red for intermediate skiers,Gornergrat has excellent red slopes with some interesting sections to improve the domain on the skis and stage to move to more challenging tracks.Also Riffelberg and Blauherd have a very good reputation as red slopes with some challenging points for intermediate skiers.

Riffenberg area in winter season is also the ideal place in some sections for the beginners who can practise Alpine Ski with its several blue slopes while in summer it is a brilliant starting point for the famous Riffelhorn,climbing a wall greatly appreciated by many people.

The experienced skiers and masters can find very challenging slopes,steep and with a relevant gradient in the area of Blauherd-Patrullarve.That magnificent area offers jumps and also a wide selection of tracks ideal slopes to test perfectly aerodynamic positions and trying special ski wax along steep straights.In addition many sections have different changes of speed and some very difficult curves.The condition of the snow is always perfect,the edges of the skis always find a perfect contact and adherence on the snow of Zermatt.  

In total in winter season the skiers can enjoy over 180,0 kilometres of beautiful  slopes and also in summer it is possible skiing in the resort in the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise thanks to the the presence of the always present snow of the glacier of Plateau Rosa.

Weather permitting the resort is connected to Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche,located in the Italian Region of Val D´Aosta in the opening period of the Italian plant for a total of almost 350,0 kilometres of slopes.

Rotenboden  is another very interesting space located near the Igloo Village and with a toboggan run.From there also starts the path leading to the foot of another Alpine Giant the famous Monte Rosa .

If you are fond about other sports the town offers you infinite alternatives such as paragliding, ice climbing, ice skating,tobogganing,ice hockey,indoor climbing,curling, heli-skiing,snowboarding,snowshoeing,sledding and much more.

The Valley Station is just 5 minutes from the centre of Zermatt.Thanks to a funicular,a great service taking you to Sunnegga Paradise you can also visit that spectacular natural area while by a cable car and chair lift you can also reach the spectacular Blauherd.Thanks to a further cable car service also the summit of the Rothorn at 3103,0 metres of altitude is accessible and in that point you will find a restaurant too.

On that mountain you can also enjoy an upper path,the impressive Road of Freedom to the Matterhorn and in approximately three hours you can reach the top of Oberrothorn situated  at 3415,0 metres of altitude,very recommended excursion to admire a panoramic view without equals.

The area corresponding to the previously mentioned Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the highest point accessible reaching the Klein Matterhorn at 3883,0 metres of altitude and it is a magnificent idea to immortalise from there a succession of pictures in a set of a mountainous chain simply stunning.

You can also  enjoy other excursions by Matterhorn Express cable car to Furi coming at 1864,0 metres of altitude and from there you can choose to leave the cabin to get on a faster cable car which directly takes you to the Trockener Steg at 2939,0 metres or stay on the previous one and reaching Trockener Steg in about  20 minutes.From there you will have the brilliant chance to reach by another one the previously cited  Klein Matterhorn.

One reached the summit,the panorama is simply fantastic with a magnificent view of Monte Rosa, Swiss and Pennine Alps, Mont Blanc and Monviso,a picture to take with you for ever in your best trip memories.

From Zermatt town through another cable car line you can also reach in a short time the magnificent Schwarzsee the magnificent  Black Lake situated at 2583,0 metres of altitude at the foot of the Matterhorn and that is another excursion among the most recommended because apart the natural beauty of that Alpine waters basin from that point you can start many other trails choosing a range of different paths among them one leading to the Hörnlihütte at 3260,0 metres of altitude which is one of the starting point for the ascent of the Matterhorn.

Sunnegga Paradise is another beautiful place,a very interesting point to see several  marmots which populate that area in big groups and there is a gondola service which directly  leads to Blauherd.That space is also a place in which there is a  playground for children and a very relaxing area to admire the beautiful Alpine scenery so ideal site very recommended for families.

From Blauherd starts the famous Paths of the Marmot a thematic trail dedicated to that kind of Alpine animal.Gornergrat is the final station and once there you can see the famous Hotel Kulmhotel Gornergrat, which is the highest Hotel in the Swiss Alps.

Apart Skiing and Winter Sports in winter,hiking and climbing also cycling is another relevant activity with spectacular routes so loved by several people in spring summer and autumn crossing all the mentioned sites with an incredible successions of challenging climbs.

The town hosts many important events and one of them is Zermatt Festival which is undoubtedly one of the most important  highlights or the resort and it takes place from August to September.It is an event mainly concentrated in art and classical music with the participation of famed artists and ensembles among them  the prestigious Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra.

Folklore Zermatt Festival is another relevant appointment celebrated every August and it is a big parade through the town.In the same month takes place the Swiss Food Festival a sort of culinary fair at the highest level with the presence of several gastronomic Institutions displaying specialities and products among the most distinctive from different Swiss geographic areas.

April is the month in which is celebrated the annual music festival Zermatt Unplugged highlighted by the presence of several important singers.The Festival has its first edition in the year 2007 and it originally consisted in  a series of concerts at Club Vernissage but later due to the great success it was expanded in the old centre of the town.That Festival has a great reputation and it  hosted in different editions famed stars such as One Republic,Seal,Roger Hodgson and David Gray among others.

About Sport events,Zermatt is also very popular.Raiffeisen Open International Tennis Championships takes place between June and July and Matterhorn Eagle Cup is a prestigious Golf tournament in the Alpine environment of the area of the Gornergrat celebrated  in July.

Apart the high flows of tourism from October to December due the Winter Sport season,the resort is often a prestigious seat of Alpine Ski competitions of National level but also hosting Europe Cup  and much more stage of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.

Also January in a special period when the municipality hosts the Trophy Horu one of the biggest tournaments of outdoor curling in Europe while in February you can assist to the Race-Rothorn Zermatt mountain a Ski Competition cruise from Zermatt to Rothorn.

A great appointment linked to another kind of sport  is that Zermatt is often a destination in the prestigious international cycling calendar hosting arrivals and stages of the famous Tour de Suisse.

Local cuisine is excellent,many specialities are mainly based on the use of delicious cheeses.The famous Croute au fromage is a gastronomic speciality made by bread,wine and melted cheeses and all that baked in the oven.The famed Raclette is another highlight consisting in melted cheese accompanied by potatoes and pickles.The iconic Fondue au fromage consists in pieces of bread or potatoes in cheese infused with Kirsch liqueur with variants consisting in cognac or wine and that plate is often accompanied by the Fendant an excellent local fine white wine.

Another version of  the Fondue is  the Fondue Bourguignon which includes minced beef meat in the cheese while another typical recipe in the Canton du  Valais just like in all Switzerland is also is the famous Rösti. 

The tradition of the notorious Swiss cheese is also present in the centre of the town with Horu Käserei a historic dairy establishment in which you can see the production of artisan cheese including the famous with herbs and it is also a site in which you can buy delicious dairy products.

The nearest airport to reach in a very easy way the resort is Sion Airport but due to its limited flight scheduled operations in terms of flights most tourists opt for Geneva or Zurich which are airports with a volume of traffics undoubtedly much superior.

The best way to reach Zermatt is by train,many of them approximately run every hour to Visp and then to Brig.At Visp you can connect to the main Swiss Rail system with trains to Geneva Airport and  Zurich Airport.

That centre of the Canton du Valais is one of those Alpine resort embraced by legends wrapped in a long and fascinating story of the mythical world of mountaineering and winter sports.The postcard of that resort is a typical Swiss Alpine town village beneath a stunning mountain,the legendary Matterhorn and as divine scenery composed by  more than 30 peaks over 4,000 meters altitude in its immediate proximity.


 Zermatt is an unique and iconic focal point of Switzerland for all what it offers,a place all to discover and enjoy in spring,summer,autumn or winter.Simply the presence of the legendary Matterhorn is in front of you with its magic and suggestive silhouette all to admire every day will delight your stay offering you an image so special to remember for ever.


Francesco Mari


Recommended Hotels in Zermatt 

Hotel Coeur Des Alpes 
Hotel Matthiol 
Hotel Mont Cervino Palace 
Hotel Riffelalp Resort 
Hotel Unique Post  
Hotel Bellavista 
Hotel Cervo Zermatt
Hotel Vernissage Backstage 
Hotel Firefly
Hotel Omnia 
Parkhotel Beau Site 
Hotel Matterhorn Focus



www.zermatt.ch
www.coeurdesalpes.ch
matthiol.ch
www.montcervinpalace.ch
www.riffelalp.com
www.hotelpost.ch
www.bellavista-zermatt.ch
www.cervo.ch
www.backstagehotel.ch
www.matterhorn-focus.ch
www.firefly-zermatt.ch
www.the-omnia.com
www.parkhotel-beausite.ch
www.about.ch