News

Jubilee Celebrations at the Matterhorn: 100 Years of the Solvay Bivouac

19/06/2017

The Hörnligrat on the Matterhorn is the route most taken by Alpinists, who want to reach the summit. The Solvay Bivouac has been available for climbers in distress since 1917. The little hut at 4,003 m turns 100 years old on 8 August 2017. A retrospective.

Cows are grazing at Riffelalp once again

13/06/2017

The bells ring once again at Riffelalp. A group of interested people has founded a new Alp corporation. Now 25 cows graze on the alpine meadows at Riffelalp. Those initiating this effort want to uphold the Valais alp culture in Zermatt.

Mountain Guide from Täsch Reaches the Summit of Mount Everest

07/06/2017

The Täsch mountain guide and expedition leader Klaus Tscherrig stood atop the summit of Mount Everest (8,820 m) with Sherpa and two of his long-time guests on 27 May 2017. This means that he had completed the "Seven Summits".

Discover Alpine Flowers on your Smartphone

01/06/2017

Knowing more means living more. This also holds true for one’s knowledge about flowers along the side of a hiking path. The Flower app from Pro Natura Aargau has been available for downloading for a few days now. The app explains the exciting flora in the surrounding area – in Zermatt and throughout all of Switzerland.

Dorfrundgang "Zermatt vor 100 Jahren"

31/05/2017

Die Zermatter Dorfführungen erfreuen sich grosser Beliebtheit. Im Sommer 2017 können Interessierte das Bauernleben der Zermatter Bevölkerung von vor 100 Jahren erleben. Führungen jeweils am Montag.

Randa: The Longest Suspension Bridge in the World is Under Construction

26/05/2017

The Europaweg between Grächen and Zermatt can be hiked again without a detour this summer. The construction work on a new suspension bridge above Randa is well underway. The reopening is planned for July-August 2017.

Riffelberg Express now also runs in summer

23/05/2017

Mountain lifts: The Riffelberg Express now also links the Furi mountain station with the Riffelberg in July and August 2017. This means that both Matterhorn glacier paradise and the Gornergrat can be visited easily in a single day.

Zermatt: Hotels at the Top of the Class - again

22/05/2017

Hotel rankings were published in both the 2016-2017 edition of Karl Wild’s book "Die 150 besten Hotels der Schweiz" (best hotels) and the SonntagsZeitung. The lists include 11 Zermatt hotels prominently represented once again. With "Prix Bienvenu" Switzerland Tourisme has also awarded the 100 most friendly Swiss hotels.

Chef Heinz Rufibach again at the Hotel Zermatterhof

19/05/2017

The Gault Millau chef de cuisine Heinz Rufibach is now in charge of the fine dining Restaurant Alpine Gourmet Prato Borni in the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. Regular guests and locals have a very good culinary memory of Rufibach. The Bern native was already chef de cuisine in the Zermatterhof from 1996 to 2002.

New: The Matterhorn Blog – A View of Life at the Foot of the Matterhorn

15/05/2017

Be there, take part, share experiences – this is now possible with the Matterhorn Blog. In the blog, the locals have their say as they report about working and living in their world at the foot of the Matterhorn. Occasionally, guest authors will also have a word.

Helicopter Flights to the Summit of the Matterhorn

14/04/2017

Helicopter round trips can be exciting. In Zermatt they are simply spectacular. The helicopter pilot and mountain guide, Simon Anthamatten, flies around the Matterhorn in 360° mode for the video community.

Zermatt is the Best Ski Resort in Switzerland

11/04/2017

Snowplaza is one of the largest web portals for winter sports. The Snowplaza readers have voted and named Matterhorn ski paradise as the best ski resort in Switzerland.

Everyone Dreams of Zermatt

28/03/2017

Zermatt is in 1^st Place. The rating platform TripAdvisor has published the winners of the Travellers’ Choice Awards with Zermatt as the absolute head of the pack. The ratings, experience reports and opinions on TripAdvisor make it clear that Zermatt is the “place to be” in Switzerland.

Zermatt is a Pioneer in Digital Transformation

08/02/2017

The Zermatt ski region offers its guests a great benefit with its digital offering. This is the conclusion reached in a study by Atos. The Matterhorn ski paradise was ranked first in front of 13 other ski resorts in Switzerland and Austria.

Zermatt Unplugged: Many Innovations

31/01/2017

The audience at the tenth edition of the Zermatt Unplugged music festival may expect many improvements, along with a colourful array of established artists, such as Stephan Eicher and Paolo Nutini and some exciting new talents (from 4 to 8 April 2017).

TripAdvisor: Zermatt Hotels are Among the Best

25/01/2017

TripAdvisor once again is praising the Zermatt hotels. The Omnia Hotel is ranked fifth and the Matterhorn Focus seventh in all of Switzerland in the TripAdvisor ratings. Many other Zermatt hotels were also distinguished.

Zermatt Open-Air Theatre: Romeo and Juliet at Gornergrat

20/12/2016

In the summer of 2017, a drama will be played out at the foot of the Matterhorn. The Zermatt Open-Air Theatre presents “Romeo and Juliet on Gornergrat”, a highly emotional theatrical performance at Riffelberg.

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ISTA: Knowledge about snow provides security

20/12/2016

Anyone skiing or trekking off-piste is exposed to danger in some circumstances. To prevent avalanche accidents, backcountry recreationists can attend ISTA courses in Zermatt. To increase the safety of the guests, Zermatt Tourism supports this academy.

Winter News, part III

05/12/2016

Zermatt-Matterhorn has a whole range of new things ready for the 2016-2017 winter season: renovated hotels, a pop-up store for breakfast and much more.

Zermatt Hotels are the Best

28/11/2016

Once again, it’s there in black and white in the latest hotel ratings by Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung - Zermatt Hotels are in a class of their own. Twelve hotels in the categories 5, 4 and 3-star were classed among the very best in Switzerland.

You Can Already Ride a Virtual Lift

25/11/2016

There is construction underway at Matterhorn glacier paradise. The new lift parallel to the existing cableway is being built at the highest building site in Europe. From Saturday 3^rd December 2016 you can already virtually ride on the new cableway in the Info Cube at Trockener Steg.

Successful Zermatt Skiguide App

19/11/2016

Recently the Zermatt Bergbahnen launched the Zermatt Skiguide app as a digital companion for skiing. Mid-November 2016, the app won the 2016 Best of Swiss Apps Award silver medal in the User Experience category and two bronze medals in the Functionality and Design categories.

Zermatt - Best Ski Resort 2016

10/11/2016

For the second time in a row, Zermatt’s Matterhorn ski paradise region wins the coveted Best Ski Resort award and prevails over 53 competitors in the Alpine region with peak performance. The awards ceremony took place in Bregenz, Austria, on 10 November 2016.

Cross-Country Skiing in Täsch/Randa: included for Guests

04/11/2016

Cross-country skiers can rejoice. Beginning in this 2016-2017 winter, the use of the Täsch-Randa cross-country ski trail is included in the Zermatt-Matterhorn destination package as part of your overnight stay. Also included are the ice rinks in Täsch and Zermatt.

Zermatt’s Rye Bread Wins a Medal

02/11/2016

The seventh edition of the Swiss Bakery Trophy came to an end in Bulle on Tuesday, 1^st November 2016. And the Biner Bakery returns to Zermatt with a medal.

Winter News from Zermatt, Part II

01/11/2016

This winter season, Zermatt-Matterhorn once again offers a complete range of new things: new shops, beautiful wellness facilities, a new game for those who stayed at home, and much more. 

Zermatt is a Culinary Eldorado

10/10/2016

The village of Zermatt offers a total of 254 points in 19 restaurants. This is in the latest edition of the Gault Millau 2017 gastronomic guide. If this is not a reason to undertake a culinary discovery tour in Zermatt once again.

Swearing Love at the Highest Point

07/10/2016

If this does not last forever: Love charms can be brought to the summit of the Matterhorn glacier paradise (3‘883 m). And this on the highest point in Europe. The aerial tramway runs up to there.

Zermatt Now Has Four Michelin Stars

05/10/2016

For cuisine, Zermatt is a peak performer, because a fourth Michelin star descended on the Matterhorn village this year. This places Zermatt at the centre of the starry heavens of culinary hot spots.

The Bearded Vultures have Raised a Fledgling

20/09/2016

For some time, it was possible to see a pair of bearded vultures circling above Zermatt. Now for the first time in the region the pair has successfully hatched and raised a fledgling.

Fewer Accidents on the "Calmed" Matterhorn

31/08/2016

This summer, hundreds of mountaineers have fulfilled their dream and reached the summit of the Matterhorn over the Hörnligrat. Thanks to various measures in force since the 2015 Jubilee Summer, there were fewer accidents on the Matterhorn.

Spy Thriller is Set in Zermatt

26/08/2016

The BBC spy thriller “The Night Manager” is a part of television spy series produced and set in part in Zermatt. Among the participating actors is Hugh Laurie known for playing the title role in Dr. House. The series will now be broadcast also in Switzerland.

New Bike Trail: The “Moos Trail”

16/08/2016

The new Moos Trail above Zermatt offers pleasure riding along an easy mountain bike flow trail. It goes along smooth riding curves through the airy larch wood forest in the Moos area and down to the end of the village of Zermatt.

Simply Wonderful: The Zermatt Music Festival & Academy

16/08/2016

From 9 to 18 September 2016, Zermatt-Matterhorn once again has the distinct privilege of warmly welcoming some of the best musicians in the world and honouring them and their 35 students at part of the Zermatt Chamber Music Academy.

Perskindol Swiss Epic: A Major Event for Cyclists

12/08/2016

On 12 September 2016, the Perskindol Swiss Epic starts in Zermatt. This is a six-day mountain bike stage race along the finest trails in Canton Valais. The Zermatt-Matterhorn destination once again proves that it is one of the most attractive destinations in the Alps for bike riding.

Matterhorn Ultraks Trail – The Alpine Race of Superlatives

12/08/2016

Zermatt is one of the most interesting high-altitude training and Alpine racing destinations bar none – equally for runners and spectators. On Friday and Saturday, 19-20 August 2016, you have the possibility to convince yourself about this on the Matterhorn Ultraks Trail.

Zermatt-Visp: New 37 km Bike Trail through the Mattertal

15/07/2016

This makes a biker’s heart beat faster. With 37 km of distance and an elevation around 1,357 m, this new bike trail Zermatt-Visp presents a wonderful challenge. Official opening is on July 16th 2016.

“The Gorner Glacier Through the Ages”

17/06/2016

The new Zermatt theme trail shows the changing history of the Gornergletscher. The hike goes southeast from Furi towards the tip of the Gornergletscher. It is impressive how far this once huge glacier has retreated in the past 150 years.

The Most Welcoming Hotels in Switzerland: Zermatt Prevails Once Again

12/05/2016

The Zermatt hoteliers and their teams are among the best in Switzerland. This is clear from the latest Palmarès awarded at the Prix Bienvenu for the most welcoming hotels in Switzerland. The winner of the luxury hotel category is the Mountain Boutique Resort Cervo. Altogether, 10 Zermatt hotels won awards.

The World’s Largest Igloo is at Zermatt

30/01/2016

It is now official: The largest igloo in the world is in Zermatt. It was built in January by a team of 18 people. The diameter is 13 metres and the interior height is 10.5 metres. Since 30 January 2016, it is now clear: This is in the Guinness Book of Records.

Zermatt: A View of the “Mercenary’s” World

27/01/2016

The “mercenary”, who was found at the Theodul Pass above Zermatt, is a sensational glacier discovery. Now, the History Museum has published a paper on the “mercenary.” The scientific findings from these human remains provide insight into life in this region for the period around 1600.

“La Traversata”: A New Winter Via Ferrata Along the Border

05/01/2016

The Zermatt mountain guides have opened a new via ferrata, La Traversata or “the crossing.” The cliffs in the region of the Furggrat are crossed. When doing this, one is practically always going along the border, which separates Italy from Switzerland. 

Matterhorn Museum: A Record Year

14/12/2015

For the Matterhorn Museum Zermatlantis, the year 2015 is one for the history and record books. Never before have so many guests wanted to see and experience the historical past and culture of life in Zermatt within the course of one year. The major drawing card is the special exhibition “The Search for the Truth.” A visit to the Matterhorn Museum is also an impressive experience in winter.

Zermatt: From a Traditional Enterprise to a Hotspot

30/11/2015

The Hotel Post is 140 years old. This traditional house in the centre offers an entire range of events from hotel to gastronomy and nightlife. A piece of unique Zermatt history and hospitality.

Zermatt: „Family Destination“

19/11/2015

Zermatt loves it when families with children come to visit. This is why Zermatt – Matterhorn has earned again the label „Family Destination", given by the Swiss Federation of Tourism STV.

A „Milestone" Reaches Zermatt

03/11/2015

For the festivities surrounding the 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn, the Zermatt-Matterhorn destination was awarded the most sought-after tourism prize in Switzerland on 3 November 2015.

Zermatt: Record Run by Andy Steindl over 5 Four Thousand-Metre Peaks

25/08/2015

The Zermatt mountain guide Andreas Steindl has set a remarkable record: He ran and climbed to the summit of 5 four thousand-metre mountains. He covered the stretch from Zermatt to Saas Fee in the unbelievable time of 7:45:44 hours.

Matterhorn Radiates in the Night

24/07/2015

The Matterhorn sparkles in the night. 50 lamps along the Hörnligrat illuminate the route of the first ascenders from 1865. The illumination can be seen from Zermatt three times each night – until the end of September 2015.

The Wishes of Children are Locked Away for 50 Years

16/07/2015

As part of the 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn, children expressed their wishes about how the future of Zermatt should look. The wishes were locked into a time capsule and it was lowered into the ground near the Gemeindehaus where it can be seen.

Virtual Hiking with Google Street View

19/05/2015

Thanks to Google Street View, virtual hiking is possible in the Zermatt-Matterhorn destination. To get one in the perfect mood and for the preparation of the new tour.

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG: more convenience and comfort

22/04/2015

Not only is the Hirli ski lift (Hörnli ski lift) set to be replaced with a six-person chair lift by winter 2015/2016, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is also installing the world’s highest tricable gondola lift in time for the 2018/2019 winter season.

Zermatt: Best Ski Resort in the Alps, 2014

09/01/2015

The Matterhorn Ski paradise resort received the covated Best Ski Resort award at a ceremony held in Zurich on 6 November 2014. An independent survey of skiing areas shows top marks in 8 of the 21 criteria of satisfaction of the involved responses, enough to earn it overall victory.

Summit commemorates Henry Dunant

07/10/2014

In an official renaming ceremony on 6 October 2014, which was attended by the President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter, the former east peak in the Monte Rosa Massif is now renamed Dunantspitze (Dunant Peak) in commemoration of the founder of the Red Cross organisation.   

Friendship treaty concluded between Zermatt and Castro Daire

23/09/2014

On 20 September 2014, the municipality of Zermatt signed a friendship treaty with the Portuguese town of Castro Daire.

“Flying as a Matter of Life and Death”

08/08/2014

The Zermatt helicopter pilot Gerold Biner has published a book about his work around Zermatt and in the Himalayas. The book shows the world of mountain rescue between the Matterhorn and Mount Everest.

Zermatt and Matterhorn: big stars in the mountain world

05/12/2013

According to sightsmap.com, the Google web portal, the Matterhorn is the most photographed mountain in the world. The ranking shows that no other mountain in the world is snapped as frequently as Zermatt’s Matterhorn.

Winter destination Zermatt wins its second sustainability award

27/11/2013

For the second consecutive time, Zermatt has been voted most sustainable winter destination in Switzerland. The ‘Verkehrsclub der Schweiz’ (VCS), the Swiss Cycling Club, presented Zermatt with the “Mobil & ökologisch” award (mobile and ecologic) for a number of reasons, chief among them the Matterhorn village’s convenient accessibility by public transport.

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG: award for environmental scheme

18/09/2013

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s environmental efforts are bearing fruit: The company has received the 2013 Revegetation Award for its renaturation scheme, which mitigates the environmental impact of piste construction. Not only is Zermatt car-free, even its piste construction is carried out in harmony with nature.

Destination Zermatt-Matterhorn invests in the future

07/03/2013

Long-term investments secure competitiveness – that’s the maxim that underlies the Strategy 2018 of Destination Zermatt-Matterhorn. On Wednesday 6 March 2013, the key service providers signed a corresponding action plan on the Gornergrat. The focus of the measures planned is the well-being of the guests.

Zermatt: once again the best downhill-skiing area in the Alps

05/12/2012

For the fourth successive time, the skiing destination Zermatt Matterhorn was voted the best skiing area in 2013 by the German ‘ski bible‘, the ADAC SkiGuide, at the end of November 2012. This was in the category “alpine skiing“. Particular praise was given for the mixture of different types of pistes.

Bonatti route: new record on the Matterhorn North Face

30/09/2011

Zermatt mountain climbers Patrik Aufdenblatten and Michael Lerjen set a new record at the end of September when they climbed the Matterhorn North Face via the Bonatti route in 7 hours and 14 minutes.

Racing up the Matterhorn in just under three hours

26/08/2011

The Zermatt mountain guide Andreas Steindl is the fastest. He succeeded in running from the Zollhaus in Zermatt at the end of the village to the summit of the Matterhorn in 2 hours and 57 minutes.

Helicopter pilot and mountain rescue specialist of Zermatt get Heroism Award

16/05/2011

With teamwork, knowledge and experience, Daniel Aufdenblatten and Richard Lehner from Zermatt saved the lives of three mountaineers. On Annapurna (Nepal) in spring 2010, they carried out the highest-ever mountain rescue – at 7000 metres altitude – by helicopter. In Washington DC today, they received on march 8 2011 the ‘Aviation Oscar’, the Heroism Award, for their feat.

New Monte Rosa Hut awarded 2010 Solar Prize

03/09/2010

An SAC hut with 120 beds faces enormous challenges. At 2880 m.a.s.l. there is no water or electricity supply and connections for waste water and sewage are also lacking. Furthermore, an SAC hut is exposed to extreme weather conditions.

2010 Solar prize for Zermatt Bergbahnen

03/09/2010

The Matterhorn glacier paradise (Klein Matterhorn) in Zermatt with its viewing platform at an altitude of 3,883 metres above sea level is the sunniest place in Switzerland. What could be more natural that to utilise this environmentally friendly energy.