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| Zermatt | ||
| Canton | Valais | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 5.643 (2017) | |
| height | 1,608 m, 2,621 m | |
| Tourist info | 41 27 966 81 00 zermatt.ch | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The mountain village of Zermatt is at the upper end of the Mattertal in the Swiss canton Valais, not far from the Italian border. The landmark is that Matterhorn (4478 m above sea level), it is probably the most photographed mountain in the world. Zermatt is both the starting point and the end of the world-famous Glacier Expresswho is about Brig-Glis, Andermatt and Chur until after Davos and St. Moritz wrong.
background
The Valais holiday resort of Zermatt is located at an altitude of approx. 1,610 meters above sea level and is one of the most sustainable holiday resorts in Switzerland. It is a municipality that belongs to the canton of Valais and is on the border with Italy. Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn - the mountain that is considered to be the symbol of Switzerland. Zermatt is surrounded by a third of the 4000m peaks in the Alps.
history
Excavations confirm that there was already a pottery industry in Zermatt before the birth of Christ. At that time, however, it was not possible to live here all year round. Important trade routes to Italy had led over the Theodul Pass since Roman times, today's route to Zermatt through the Mattertal from Visp was still impassable at that time. The first document in which Zermatt was mentioned was, with its original name Pratobornum, dates from 1280. The current name «zer Matt» was first found on a map from 1495. The area around Zermatt was under the sovereignty of the Bishop of Sitten, who transferred or leased his rights to various secular lords. Zermatt received its own constitution on January 21, 1691.
Around 150 years ago, Zermatt was still a modest Valais mountain village, a place of pilgrimage for daring mountaineers in the golden age of alpinism. Today, however, the village has become an important and modern health resort with an international flair. In 1838 he opened the first inn with three beds for guests under the name "Hotel Mont Cervie" (later Monte Rosa).
On July 14, 1865, the Englishmen Edward Whymper, Charles Hudson, Lord Francis Douglas, Douglas Robert and Robert Hadow made the first ascent of the Matterhorns. During the descent, Hadow fell 400 m with Hudson, Douglas and the Zermatt mountain guide Michel Croz because of a broken rope and did not survive. This was the starting shot for the ascent to the world-famous tourist destination.
In 1891 the railway line from Visp to Zermatt the Brig-Glis-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn opened for summer operations. In 1898 the railway was on the Gornergrat continued. The Brig-Glis-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn started winter operations in 1928, the prerequisite for the first winter season in Zermatt. As early as 1944, for the first time, more guests were visiting Zermatt in winter than in summer. Both railways now belong to the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway that also together with the Rhaetian Railway the world famous Glacier Express operates.
getting there
By plane
The closest international airports are airport Zurich
(IATA: ZRH) , Bern-Belp Airport(IATA: BRN), Geneva airport(IATA: GVA) and the airports Milan Malpensa Airport(IATA: MXP) or. Milan Linate Airport(IATA: LIN). From these airports, you can continue your journey by car, public transport or helicopter.
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An individual special journey can be made with the Air Zermatt be performed.
By train
The easiest way to get to Zermatt is by public transport. Visp or Brig-Glis, from where the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn goes to Zermatt, is easy to reach by train, or the Glacier Express. Zermatt is the start or end point on the St Moritz / Davos - Zermatt connection.
In the street
Cars are not permitted in Zermatt, travel by car is only permitted as far as Täsch, which is 5 km from Zermatt. In Täsch the cars can be parked in parking lots and multi-storey car parks. The 1 Large car park "Matterhorn Terminal Täsch" costs CHF 14.50 per day for 1 car. Taxis run from some parking lots to and from Zermatt. Täsch can also be reached with Zermatt in 12 minutes by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, which runs every 20 minutes. A return trip from Täsch to Zermatt with the ZermattShuttle is currently (March 2014) 16.00 CHF.
mobility
Zermatt has been car-free since 1931. Access for private vehicles is only possible as far as Täsch, which is 5 km from Zermatt. Since combustion engines are not allowed in Zermatt, mobility in Zermatt is guaranteed with electric vehicles.
The Electric taxis drive at a speed of 20 km / h. The following taxi companies you can find them in Zermatt: Taxi Bolero, Taxi Schaller, Maliki Taxi Zermatt, Taxi Firefly, Taxi 24, Taxi Imboden.
There are too Electric buses in action. These electric local buses circulate every 10 to 12 minutes. In winter (November 1st to May 30th) some routes of the electric buses can be used free of charge with a ticket from the Zermatt mountain railways.
Those who are nostalgic can get along with the Horse-drawn carriage let yourself be driven through the winter landscape.
Most urban routes can be effortlessly on foot to be covered.
Gornergratbahn
The 1 Gornergrat is located at an altitude of 3089 meters and belongs to the massif of the Monte Rosa. The panorama from the viewing platform at the end of the cable car is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland: Monte Rosa massif with the highest Swiss mountain (Dufourspitze at 4,634 m above sea level), with a view of the second largest glacier in the Alps, the Gorner Glacier, as well as on almost 30 4000ers. The highest hotel in Switzerland, the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, with a restaurant, observatory and shopping mall is located on the Gornergrat. In winter you can spend the night in a very special hotel, in igloos, packed in warm sleeping bags. Hot whirlpool, Swiss cheese fondue and mulled wine included.
The Gornergratbahn, which is operated by the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn, is the highest outdoor rack railway in Europe. It was put into operation in 1898 and right from the start it was electrified with three-phase current. It thus became the first electrically operated rack railway in Switzerland. It starts at the Zermatt train station, the journey for the 9.3 kilometer route takes 40 minutes and runs every 20 minutes in the high season. It's best to try in for the view of the Matterhorn A seat on the right in the direction of travel to get.
On the way back, you can get off at the Riffelalp station in summer. This is where the little one begins Riffel Alptram, Europe's highest tram line. With a length of 675 m, it leads from the Riffelalp train station of the Gornergrat Railway to the Hotel Riffelalp Resort. The small, open train runs between mid-June and mid-October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (clock?).
Fares Gornergratbahn 2013: Zermatt - Gornergrat: one-way CHF 41; (34 €; Euro only guide prices); Ascent and descent CHF 82 (€ 68.50); Children (6-16 years in summer; 9-16 years in winter) 50% discount; For a complete price overview with further discounts and timetable, see www.gornergratbahn.ch
Tourist Attractions
The main attraction is that Matterhornwhich is visible from almost everywhere in the village. But the village itself also has some beautiful corners that can be discovered on a guided tour of the village.
- English church
- Mountaineers cemetery
- Market square with the marmot fountain and St. Mauritius Church
- Hinterdorfgasse
- 2 Matterhorn Museum (Zermatlantis), Kirchplatz, 3920 Zermatt (The entrance is in the garden of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof at the church square.). Tel.: 41 (0)27 967 41 00. The concept of the museum is as an archaeological excavation site. The museum visitors are led on footbridges and galleries and stairs to Zermatt of the 19th century, which was excavated by archaeologists, and with 14 accessible houses (Zermatlantis).Open: in summer: one week after Easter until June 30th and in October daily 2 pm-6pm, July to September daily 11 am-6pm.Price: Entrance fees: Adults CHF 10 (approx. € 8), free of charge with the Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass and Swiss Youth Pass.
Above the museum is the Alpin Center, where you can get all information about mountain railways, mountain guides and ski courses.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Glacier Palace
3 Small Matterhorn with "Matterhorn Glacier Paradiese" with the highest cable car station in Europe (3883 m a.s.l.). Breathtaking panorama of Italian, French and Swiss alpine giants included - and with a lot of "imagination" you can even see the Mediterranean on the horizon. The Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, seems close enough to touch. Up here you can also ski in summer.
Up here is also the highest glacier palace in the world, which can be reached via 2 passenger elevators directly from the Matterhorn glacier paradise station. You walk through an ice tunnel directly into the palace, which is about fifteen meters below the surface of the glacier. The way back can be started through a crevasse.
Schwarzsee
The Schwarzsee lies north of the Matterhorns at an altitude of 2,583 m above sea level. M.
The Schwarzsee is a starting point for a hike to Hörnlihütte (Starting point for climbing the Matterhorn), which can be reached in around 2 hours. The water of the Schwarzsee is crystal clear, the reflection of the Matterhorn is an extremely popular photo motif. The "Maria zum Schnee" chapel is idyllically situated on the shores of the Schwarzsee. On interactive themed trails with stories about the Matterhorn and on the Matterhorn glacier trail, you can learn interesting facts about the bizarre world of glaciers.
Schwarzsee can be reached by cable car from Zermatt via Furi. A return ticket from Zermatt to Schwarzsee costs CHF 49 for an adult and CHF 24.50 for a child. Another way to get back down to the valley quickly is to ride a dirt scooter (downhill scooter). An overnight stay in the Hotel Schwarzsee, which can be reached with the same gondola, is possible with getting off at the Klein-Matterhorn stop.
Sunnegga
The Sunnegga alpine area at 2,288 m above sea level is particularly family-friendly. From Zermatt you can take the underground funicular to the top in just 3 minutes and from there you have a view of the Matterhorn. In just a few minutes you can reach the marmot observation post or the crystal clear Leisee.
Various walking and themed trails start from Sunnegga and Blauherd, and there is also an adventure playground. Kickbike scooters including helmets can be rented from the Sunnegga valley station to get to Zermatt via Tuftern.
Rothorn
The Rothorn (3,100 m) is a mountain peak that can be reached by train.
A special feature is the “Peak Collection” exhibition - all around the Rothorn restaurant. There are themed trails about marmots, alpine flora and the Zermatt mountains. Price Zermatt-Rothorn there and back: adult 66 CHF, child 33 CHF.
activities
Only activities in the village are described here, for mountain activities see section trips.
Whole year
The indoor pools and wellness areas of most hotels are open to the public for a fee, but in some cases a reservation is required or certain visiting times must be adhered to.
Billiards and table football can be played in the Country Bar, among other places.
The Vernissage cinema is a work of art by the Zermatt artist Heinz Julen. In the multifunctional room with the typical Heinz Julen design and mobile chandeliers, the organizers show current blockbusters, classics and regular homeland films.
A slightly different way of experiencing Zermatt is to visit the Alpine dairy on the Stafel in July and August or the Horu cheese dairy in the village all year round. When visiting the production facilities, the procedures are demonstrated and there is the opportunity to taste the excellent cheese. In both places it is possible to buy dairy products for home use.
winter
One of the nicest things to do is a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Anyone who is not overprivileged and does not reside in one of the 5 * hotels can get into the green team at Bahnhofstrasse.
Curling and ice-skating are possible against admission at the Obere Matten sports arena. The natural and artificial ice rink in the center of the village offers free fun on the ice from December to the end of February. This is where the youngest ice sports fans meet to play ice princess or compete against each other in ice hockey.
Indoor climbing is possible in winter on the climbing wall in the Triftbachhalle. Dry exercises in climbing on a 7 m high and 140 square meter wall surface can be tried out.
summer
The sports center offers space for tennis, football and other sports in its halls at this time of the year. There is a half pipe for skaters. The field opposite the Hotel Nicoletta is used as a football field. At the Matterhorn Golf Club between Täsch and Randa, you can play golf on a 9-hole "alpine parkland" golf course with a view of the Breithorn and Klein Matterhorn.
If you feel like an adventure, visit the Forest Fun Park, which is suitable for the whole family and for all ages. Secured on ropes, you can walk, swing and climb from tree to tree.
A tour of the village in a horse-drawn carriage is of course also a highlight.
Regular events
The Zermatt Unplugged is an acoustic festival in the heart of the Swiss Alps, which takes place in April. On the tent stage, in the vernissage, on Sunnegga and on the New Talents Stages, international stars, singer songwriters and newcomers celebrate the good, unadulterated sound.
The Swiss Food Festival is held on a weekend in August. Zermatt top chefs prepare seasonal and regional delicacies at various stations. Swiss and Valais producers offer regional products to try and buy in Bahnhofstrasse from Friday to Sunday.
For runners there is the Zermatt Marathon, which remains unforgettable with the view of a breathtaking panorama.
For some years now, Zermatt autumn with its bright colors has been part of the Zermatt Festival: the classical music and art festival with the soloists and ensembles of the Berlin Philharmonic. An academy, film festival, contemporary art and artistic offers to participate in exposed and magical places in the village transform the melancholy hiker, who particularly likes to visit Zermatt at this time of year, into an artist seeker. The concerts at up to 2,222 m above sea level. are therefore a unique experience.
For snow sports enthusiasts, the Swiss Army holds the legendary Patrouille des Glaciers every second year. The “toughest team competition in the world” leads patrols over 112 performance kilometers from Zermatt via Arolla to Verbier.
shop
In Zermatt you will find everything you need for a stay in the mountains. There are numerous sports and shoe shops, pharmacies, grocery stores as well as jewelry and watch shops. The shops can be found all over the village. However, you can find everything on offer in the center of Bahnhofplatz and along Bahnhofstrasse.
The latest collections from well-known brands are regularly available, especially in the sports and shoe stores. Various jewelery shops and watch shops offer products in the luxury sector, such as well-known watch brands. There is a souvenir shop on almost every corner, where you can find gifts and souvenirs for every budget.
kitchen
The culinary offer is extremely diverse. Local and Swiss specialties can be enjoyed in almost every restaurant. The Walliserkanne restaurant is particularly well-known for this. Zermatt also offers a large selection of Asian and Italian cuisine. Even McDonald’s offers its fast food in an alpine chalet. On Bahnhofstrasse you will find everything your heart desires, from pizza from the wood-fired oven to a gala dinner in the 5 * hotel.
nightlife
Zermatt has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to going out and nightlife. Even at the edge of the slopes in the après-ski bars, parties take place until late in the evening. In the village you will find a suitable location for every taste. Here too, Bahnhofstrasse offers various nightlife options such as the T-Bar, the Grampis and the Hotel Post with its five bars. A popular meeting point is the Papperlapub, which is directly connected to the Snow White Club in the basement. To get there you have to turn left after the village square and cross the bridge.
accommodation
It is almost impossible to spend the night cheaply in Zermatt. The youth hostel and the Matterhorn hostel, where you can stay for as little as 30 francs, offer inexpensive accommodations. However, these are not very centrally located, but easily accessible.
Otherwise, Zermatt offers a large selection of hotels that are in the higher price segment. It is advisable to reserve a room early during the main season, as the hotels are often fully booked.
If you don't want to spend the night in Zermatt, there are many alternatives in the Mattertal. The villages are well connected to public transport by the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway.
health
- There are various health offers in Zermatt, such as masseurs, beauty & body, yoga, etc.
- The closest hospitals to Zermatt are in Visp, Pflanzettastrasse 8, CH-3930 Visp and Brig-Glis, Ueberlandstrasse 14, CH-3902 Brigbeide with Tel. 41 (0) 27 970 33 33. The hospitals are operated by Valais Hospitaloperated.
- The flight-operated rescue service in Zermatt is operated by Air Zermatt. The phone number is 144.
Practical advice
- For all online explorers, it is worth visiting the Zermatt Tourism website. Here you can find a lot of information about excursions, local maps and contact points. Zermatt tourism
- For self-explorers, the first stop in Zermatt should definitely be the Zermatt Tourism office on the station square. Here you can stock up on brochures, maps and all sorts of other information free of charge. Contact address as well as opening and telephone times can be found here: Contact & opening times
- If you still can't find your destination, you can also ask the residents or shops.
post
There is a post office in Zermatt at Bahnhofstrasse 46. The counter is open during normal opening times. A mail delivery service as well as a deposit service is available. The exact opening times can be viewed on the Swiss Post website.
Internet
There is internet on almost every corner. In some hotels it is free for guests, otherwise the rate is around CHF 12 per hour. The Country Bar, where you can also find a printer, is a bit cheaper. The big exception is the Papperla Pub, which offers a free internet corner (mostly occupied) and free wireless LAN (so take your laptop with you).
trips
Zermatt is the basis for all kinds of excursions. So you can get to the highest in the mountains (3883 m above sea level) Glacier Palace visit the world. That is also known and interesting at the same time Gorner Gorgewhich is only 15 minutes away from Zermatt.
Hike and Faster
In order to experience the mountains, you don't necessarily have to be on foot. There are many other options, for example by mountain bike, the Gornergratbahn or paragliding flights.
If you want to see as much as possible from the air, you can book a helicopter tour with Air Zermatt: Air Zermatt AG Heliport Zermatt, Postfach, CH-3920 Zermatt, Tel. 41 (0) 27 966 86 86, Fax 41 (0) 27 966 86 85 , [email protected].
Rockclimbing
The 38 four-thousand-meter peaks around Zermatt are a huge playground for mountaineers. The area should only be explored with an experienced mountaineer.
Alpine tours, multi-day tours and climbing tours can all be enjoyed in the ZERMATTERS Homebase on Zermatt's Bahnhofstrasse can be booked. Most of them are only carried out in summer.
Winter sports
The most popular are of course skiing and snowboarding, which you can do in Zermatt 365 days a year. On the side of the Zermatt mountain railways you can find all information about this.
For those who want to take it a little slower, the winter hiking trails and Nordic walking routes are definitely a pleasure.
For tobogganers there is a track from Gornergrat into the valley with an excellent view of the Matterhorn.
There are excellent opportunities for heliskiing and heliboarding around Zermatt. Air Zermatt offers no less than ten runs in open terrain, accompanied by knowledgeable mountain guides from the Alpin-Center. The queen is called Tour Monte Rosa. It starts at an altitude of 4,200 m and measures an altitude difference of 2,600 m. Äschhorn with various downhill options, Alphubeljoch and the tours on the Italian side from Testa Grigia, Cervinia, the Lysjoch over the border glacier and the Tête de Valpelline.
literature
Web links
- http://www.zermatt.ch - Official website of Zermatt
