Zermatt, Mountain resort town in Valais, Switzerland
Zermatt sits at 1,608 meters altitude at the end of the Matter Valley, surrounded by the peaks of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. The resort spreads along the Matter Vispa river, with hotels and shops lining the main street Bahnhofstrasse.
The settlement was first mentioned in 1495 as 'Zur Matte' and remained a small farming village for centuries. Tourism began after the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, when climbers and travelers from across Europe started arriving.
The name comes from 'zur Matt', referring to the meadows in the valley, and locals still speak a distinct Valais dialect. Many residents work in tourism, and you can see traditional wooden chalets standing next to modern hotels.
The village is car-free, so all visitors use electric taxis or walk through the streets. Most accommodations are just a few minutes from the train station, and in winter the sidewalks can be icy.
The Gornergrat railway takes passengers above 3,000 meters, where more than 20 peaks over 4,000 meters can be seen at once. Some hotel rooms have glass walls, so you can look directly at the Matterhorn from bed at night.
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