Hamlet of Blatten
Blatten was once a “Maiensäss”, a high settlement to which farmers moved for the summer, with lush pastures. Today, this hamlet located at 1,740 m, with its old wooden houses, fine restaurants and pretty chapel, is a popular excursion destination.
The mountain restaurants at Blatten lie beside the hiking trails and ski pistes. The many old buildings are authentic Walser mountain houses, barns and stores, made of larch wood that has blackened over the centuries. However, it is not so long since tough farming work dominated the summer days of the temporary residents. Every year, in early summer, the people of Zermatt drove their livestock up from the valley floor. The milk was made into cheese, or carried daily down to the village. On Sundays, all the mountain farmers went to the chapel for mass.
- Chapel, “Maria Rosenkranzkönigin”
- Many restaurants
- Located by hiking trails and ski pistes
- Ricola herb garden
- Gorner gorge nearby
- Holiday homes and chalets for rental
Reading
“Alp- und Bergbeizli Zermatt” by Gisela Schlotterbeck, published by Weber Verlag, Thun. With portraits of 47 mountain restaurants; in German only. ISBN 978-3-906033-10-5.