In addition to the entire Scandinavia, which is hauntingly beautiful, Switzerland is one other European destination that I feel emotionally connected to. There are many regions in Switzerland that I love and I will be writing about each one of those special spots in separate posts. This post is dedicated to Zermatt – one of my favorite places in Switzerland. When I was in Zermatt, a beautiful unique car-free village tucked away in the Swiss alps near the famous Matterhorn, I loved every minute of it. Famed as a mountaineering and ski resort of the Swiss Alps, Zermatt is an impressive place where you will meet a mountain spirit like nowhere it the world. No visit to Zermatt is complete without an up-close-and-personal look at the one of the world’s most famous mountains. Zermatt is like the present you didn't know you wanted until you got it there and fell in love. It is such a pretty village, especially during autumn, making the whole village look so dreamy. The entire journey from Zurich to Zermatt took three hours and a half. Another popular way to reach Zermatt is from St. Moritz on the Glacier Express, an all-day ride on a historic narrow gauge line that cuts across the country. You can also do just half of this route by connecting Zermatt with Luzern. I travelled via the Glacier Express using the Swiss Travel Pass and I enjoyed every minute of it because along the way, as the train left the urban settings, I feasted my eyes on the quintessential million dollar Swiss sceneries: Frisian cows, undulating terrains, pastoral mountainside landscapes, coniferous forests, lush alpine vegetation, rolling hills, clean rivers, quaint houses made of larch, snowcapped mountain ranges and the Alps. I therefore realised that I never knew how beautiful Switzerland is until I saw it with my own eyes – the sensation that I got from looking at the images of Switzerland prior to visiting it can never substitute the elation I felt when seeing it in real life. The streets are lined with wooden chalet-style buildings. Some of the buildings at Zermatt are over 500 years old. They are a photographer’s dream, especially with all the gorgeous flowers on every building no matter if they are old or new. You will be amazed by the architecture wonders of small and large chalets in Zermatt. Staying true to the rural Swiss architecture, the interiors and design of the chalets around the town are modern and just astonishing. You can enjoy magnificent views, state-of-the-art amenities, the perfect mix of native alpine style and contemporary details. The Matterhorn Museum can be quite surprising because of how it appears outside compared to what it contains inside. The Matterhorn Museum’s entrance is pretty modern, built with glass exteriors. But, when you come inside, you’ll see the 19th-century Zermatt. The museum exhibits are straight out of the movies set in the middle ages in the mountains. You’ll see the cobblestone village square, its houses, barns, stables with farm animals, and more. You will also find things and stories of the first alpinists who ascended to the top of the Matterhorn in the late 19th century. I must mention that there’s also a stone ax from the Neolithic Age and remains of a 16th-century “Söldner” mercenary in the museum. They’re fascinating discoveries! Overall, the Matterhorn museum is a time-transporting place. I think a visit to Zermatt is incomplete without the museum on the itinerary. The people who ski at Zermatt do not take the skiing as seriously as they do in other parts of the world. Sitting at cafes and enjoying life is more important than how many runs you clock up in Zermatt. There are innumerable bars, cafes and coffee shops both on and off piste. Sit back, enjoy the view of the Matterhorn. You don’t have to hike far and ride cable cars to see Matterhorn. Even right in the middle of the village (in Kirchbrücke), a view of the Matterhorn awaits. You cannot look anywhere without being taken in by the views and there is a sense of calm and serenity. I think hiking is an unmissable activity, especially in Zermatt, because the views from the hiking trails in Zermatt are graced by the unique beauty of Matterhorn and other tall mountains. There is one for each level of hiker or climber. Climb it, look at it, but you cannot ignore the fact that the Matterhorn dominates the landscape of Zermatt. No matter where you are in Zermatt, the mighty, and mysterious Matterhorn stands guard over 3 countries. The Matterhorn has been of great interest to people not only for its sheer physical presence and beauty but also for its unforgiving nature to those who attempt to conquer it. It has been shrouded in controversy since the very first ascent in 1865. The Matterhorn is claimed by 3 countries. The French call it Mont Cervin, while the Italians call it Monte Cervino, yet in reality the world knows it as the Matterhorn and the Swiss claim it as their own. It has become an icon of the Swiss Alps and is one of the most photographed mountains in the world. The Matterhorn has such a commanding presence you cannot help but gaze at it in awe. I was mesmerised by the view of The Matterhorn, barely taking my eyes off it! As you climb up the mountain you have the opportunity to see it from different angles, admiring its impressively sharp angles. Seeing the Mattherhorn in Zermatt is one of the best things to in Switzerland and a must when visiting this beautiful country. All year round the slopes of Matterhorn present the magnificent beauty of the landscape and nature. It’s a paradise. And it’ll satisfy all your escapism desires. Whenever you decide to experience Swiss Alps, don’t forget that there awaits you fresh air!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author
|