Zermatt is a wonderland of snow and ice and well worth a visit even in summer.
Visitors can go hiking and trekking, mountain biking, high-altitude tours, and
even skiing in the highest summer ski area the Alps can offer. The surrounding
mountains and valleys are rich in flora and fauna, and visitors may have the
chance to catch a glimpse of more than 1000 alpine floral species.
As well as the well-signed walks beginning from the resort itself, railways
take tourists into the high reaches of the mountains for altitude hiking and
mountain climbing. The Zermatt Alpine Centre is a great resource, offering training
sessions, day tours, and glacier walks.
Winter transforms the resort into a wonderland of snow and ice, and the 313
km of runs include slopes for everyone, from complete beginners to those looking
for a challenge. 74 transport options transport visitors to this huge selection
of runs, where skiing, snowboarding, sledding and hiking are all popular amongst
the crowds.
When you feel like relaxing indoors, Zermatt also has a Casino located at the
Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, as well as a variety of restaurants and bars. There
are also a number of galleries, showing paintings of the resort and its surroundings,
exhibitions of contemporary artists, and of course, the mineral collection housed
in the Zermatt schoolhouse.
Perhaps the most impressive sight though, and one that can be enjoyed year-round,
is the Glacier Palace, a freezing cavern in the ice of Klein Matterhorn, at
an altitude of 3820 metres. This natural hall offers tourists a unique perspective
into snow and ice, and a chance to imagine what the world must have been like
during the last ice age.
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