Shaped by ancient traditions and modern tourism

The Zermatt Village is modern tourist spot with full of ancient traditions. The exciting contrasts can be explored within 1.5 hours on a walk through the village.

Around 30 ancient buildings in the old village beside the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof demonstrate the traditional building style of the original residents of Walser. The barns and grain stores, up to 500 years old, are a piece of living history and show how the Zermatt mountain farmers once lived. 

Charming tradition in hotels

More than 100 hotels and numerous chalets are also located in Zermatt, some of them antique, others very new. But there is no huge blocks of hotels or flat roofs in resort. Hotels have bars available to non-residents where tourists can enjoy all the hospitality and charm that characterize the hotel tradition in Zermatt.

The Bahnhofstrasse is the main street in Zermatt, and a pleasure to stroll along with its bars, restaurants, boutiques, souvenir shops, bakeries and shops that sell cakes and chocolates at any time. From the steps of St. Mauritius Church or from the Kirchbrücke Bridge, visitors enjoy a beautiful view of the Matterhorn’s south-west rising majestically up into the sky. The peak can sparkle in the sunlight, or adorned with clouds, depending on the weather.

Zermatt is car-free and has been kept closed to traffic since 1961. The Bahnhofstrasse is the realm of horse-drawn carriages. It’s a joy to walk along the streets. A herd of about 50 Valais Blackneck goats descends daily at around 9 am and 5 pm on the Bahnhofstrasse in high summer. These photogenic animals are the stars of the Matterhorn village with their twisted horns and long-haired, black-and-white coats.

Visitors gets up early to see the Matterhorn sunrise are treated with a magical visuals. The pinnacle captures the very first rays of the sun, which gradually move down the east face of the Matterhorn as Zermatt wakes up to a new day.

Directions

The old village is situated on resort layout square E8. Anyone interested in local people’s lifestyles in days gone by can visit the Matterhorn Museum, Zermatlantis.

Bahnhofplatz (by station) – Obere Matten sports field – Zum Steg bridge – Hinterdorf – Kirchplatz (church square) – Kirchbrücke bridge – Kirchplatz – up the road by GramPi’s – Englischer Viertel (“English quarter”) – Bodmenstrasse – Bahnhofplatz.

Equipment we recommend:

• Good footwear
• Clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof)

Facts of a walk around Zermatt village

• Hiking time: 1.5 hrs
• Difficulty: easy
• Elevation: 1612 – 1678 m
• Distance: 3.5 km
• Terrain: town
• Region: Matter valley (Valais)