Breithorn, Alpine mountain peak at Italy-Switzerland border, Valais.

Breithorn is an alpine peak reaching 4,164 meters that straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. The massif consists of multiple summits, including the Western Breithorn, Central Breithorn, and the Breithorn Twins across its ridge structure.

The first documented ascent occurred in 1813, led by Henry Maynard with Joseph-Marie Couttet, Jean Gras, and the Erin brothers as his team. This early success made the mountain a known objective for climbers in the region.

The name is German for "broad horn", after the wide glaciated crest seen from Zermatt and St-Jacques. Zermatt guides call clients fit only for this easy 4,000 m summit "Breithoru-Liit" (Breithorn people), a local term for alpinists kept off harder peaks.

The Klein Matterhorn cable car reaches 3,883 m, leaving a climb of one and a half to three hours on the normal route, which crosses the Breithorn plateau firn and then a 35-degree slope. The tour is high alpine and demands glacier equipment and experience; cornices and bad weather are the main hazards. Ski descents from the main summit suit experienced riders.

The mountain offers year-round climbing with varying conditions - snow-covered slopes in winter and exposed glacial ice in late summer. This range makes it a flexible objective for different seasons and skill levels.