On my two previous trips to Switzerland’s tiny-but-touristy Zermatt, I failed to catch a glimpse of the glorious Matterhorn mountain that draws so many to the burg at its base for a peek at the peak.
My third try was the charm, and now I have a confession: I’m in love with the Matterhorn. Now I get why this mountain town of 5,800 people is so popular.
There’s just something about the Matterhorn, the most recognizable mountain on the planet. Just seeing the Matterhorn is one of the great experiences in Switzerland. And hiking with that iconic summit as a background is even better.
Zermatt, which sits at 5,000 feet in the shadow of the 14,690-foot Matterhorn, is nestled at the dead-end of a long valley in Switzerland’s remote southwest. While it’s barely two hours from Bern and Interlaken by train, or about three from Zürich or Lausanne, it’s not quite on the way to anywhere. Especially considering its inconvenient location, many travelers find it overrated. If you make the trek and find only cloudy weather, you may end up with a T-shirt that reads, “I went all the way to Zermatt and didn’t even see the Matterhorn.”
But in sunny weather, riding the high-mountain lifts, poking through lost-in-time farm hamlets, and ambling along on scenic hikes – all with that famous pointy mountain in view – make the trip worthwhile. And the town itself does have pockets of traditional charm, with streets lined with chalet after chalet and overflowing flower boxes.
Be the first to comment