ZERMATT, THE PARADISE OF THE ALPS – NEWS SUMMER 2017. NEWS FROM THE AREA SURROUNDING THE MATTERHORN The Zermatt – Matterhorn destination is one of the most successful tourist resorts in the entire Alpine area. To retain this status, we are constantly investing in infrastructure, adventures, events and offers. This is why this great experience remains attractive. Even in the summer, the gondolas take skiers as well as Alpinists and those on an outing to the highest mountain station in Europe at 3,883 m. Zermatt – Matterhorn offers summer highlights while hiking, biking or travelling to one of the mountains with a panoramic view. In the mountains of Zermatt, Täsch and Randa the most beautiful Alpine panoramas in Europe are on display with a view of 38 four thousand metre peaks including the most famous, the Matterhorn (4,478 m). Specific information with relevant facts and figures, contacts, photo and video database and a lot more for journalists and tour operators: www.zermatt.ch/en/Media-corner ¦ www.zermatt.ch/en/Tour-operators Seite 1 NEWS ABOUT HOTELS & HOLIDAY APARTMENTS. HOTEL AND HOLIDAY APARTMENT RENOVATIONS Partial renovations were made in the rooms, interior and wellness centres in the following hotels: Continental, Eden Wellness, Hotel Hemizeus and Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. Guests staying in the Steinmatte village area will find a newly designed 2½-room apartment with Whirlpool in the Olympia building, in the apartment Mischabel. Details ____________________ SILVANA MOUNTAIN HOTEL A new large spa was built in close proximity to the Furi mountain lift station. Guests staying in the Silvana Mountain Hotel experience the bathing landscape at a 34°C (93°F) water temperature under Zermatt’s twinkling night sky. Hotel guests enjoy the private spa with a hay sauna and herbal steam showers. The Biner host family now also offers a spacious lounge and terrace as well as the romance of a hut, the Mountain Lodge: a chalet with a variety of rooms. Hotel and Mountain Lodge are located on a mountain trail at almost 1,900 m. There are also offerings for visitors. Details ____________________ Seite 2 NEW ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES. NEW ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES The tour through the village of Zermatt is under the theme: “A Tour with the Farmers from the Past”. During the guided tour in the old part of the village where centuries-old wooden houses, stalls and barns stand, it is possible to experience how the people lived and worked 100 years ago. You can see women weaving wool, braiding baskets or also men roofing the buildings with stone slabs. Those demonstrating these activities wear clothing in a style from that time. In an attractive and entertaining way your guide, Franz-Josef, tells you how the people lived in Zermatt then. Guided tours are in simultaneous German and English. 10 July to 28 August 2017 Details ____________________ HIKING TRAIL „EUROPAWEG“: NEW SUSPENSION BRIDGE From this summer on it will be possible to hike again on the trail „Europaweg“ between Grächen and Zermatt as a real altitude trail. For years a part of it was closed due to rock fall. The hikers had to make a detour of more than 500 metres of altitude into the valley and back. The new suspension bridge is now on a new spot. It is the longest alpine pedestrian suspension bridge of the world. Length: 494 m, 0,65 m wide, altitude on the highest point on the valley “Grabengufer”: 85 m. Opening in summer 2017. Details (only in German) ____________________ PHOTOS, JUST BEFORE THE FALL “My subject – my moment – my Matterhorn photo”. With this motto in mind, it is possible to take a photograph of yourself on Gornergrat this summer. Using a green screen, a picture is taken which creates the impression that someone is just jumping into the crystal-clear Riffelsee (2,575 m). This person is the subject posing in the Matterhorn PhotoShop at 3100 Kulmhotel on Gornergrat. And the result is a photograph which fits very well in a souvenir memories album of the most beautiful trips. Details ____________________ Seite 3 GLACIER EXPRESS AS A FANTASTIC SHORT EXPERIENCE First of all, the famous Glacier Express (St. Moritz-Zermatt) can also be booked for short sections. For example, Brig to Zermatt is a fantastic short experience. And those who would like to have a culinary experience through Valais in a panorama train should book a trip between 18 September and 22 October 2017 – when the Valais Weeks take place. Short-section offers on the Glacier Express from 13 May to 15 October 2017 Details ____________________ SUNNEGGA: HUT EVENTS AND SPECIAL EVENING TRIPS On Friday evenings in summer, pleasure seekers can experience something very special: a cosy and comfortable evening in a hut at Sunnegga or in Findeln. Swiss specialties are served in two different restaurants and accompanied by a romantic sunset. This offering is also available as just a mountain lift trip. Each Friday. Details ____________________ MOUNTAIN ROMANCE AND A CLIMBING ADVENTURE Two exciting adventures are part of the programme with the Climbing Fun Package. First, we travel up to the viewing platform at Matterhorn glacier paradise (3,883 m) and then into the Glacier Palace, where a romantic and impressive ice world awaits your amazement 15 m below the surface. After the return to the valley there are cables and devices high up in the air which can be used to swing from tree to tree. Details ____________________ Seite 4 WATER SKIING AT SCHALISEE Water skiing in the mountains? Really? Of course! This is possible at Schalisee (1,428 m), the largest lake in the Nikolai Valley. There is an electric tow lift more than 100 m above the water that pulls wakeboarders and water skiers across the waves. Those who are talented can ski as many loops as they would like to extend the ride. There is also a little food stand offering snacks and drinks for the betterment and enjoyment of the water skiing fans and swimmers. Water skis, wakeboards, swimming aids and neoprene suits are included in the offer. Together, they present a one-day adventure with skiing on the glacier in the morning and water skiing on the lake in the afternoon – an irresistible adventure. Details ____________________ Seite 5 NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF MOUNTAIN BIKES. BIKE FRIENDLY HOTELS Besides beautiful mountain bike trails with the most amazing views, Zermatt also offers mountain bikers a great deal of comfort. Hotels have specialised infrastructure, such as bike wash stalls, locked bike rooms, repair sets and much more. The hotels are located both in the village as well as in the mountains and sometimes right next to the trails. The Hotel Alpenlodge offers its guests electric bicycles to explore the surroundings. Details ____________________ HOTEL PACKAGES The Riffelhaus 1853 at Gornergrat and the Hotel Continental in Zermatt’s village centre both offer bike packages. In the Riffelhaus 1853, a 2-night bike package can be booked; in the Hotel Continental in the village, 3- night packages are available with 2 nights in the Continental and the third night in the Riffelhaus 1853 at 2,600 m. Details ____________________ BIKE TOURS WITH THE HOTEL OWNER The Hotel Hemizeus is located in Zermatt at the edge of the village and not far from the new Moos Trail. This is the easiest flow trail in Zermatt. The hotelier Ruggero Palazzo personally guides his guests along the most beautiful trails in the surrounding area. Details ____________________ Seite 6 ZERMATT-VISP BIKE & TRAIN COMBINATION PACKAGE The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn adds real pleasure to the new Zermatt- Visp mountain bike trail. Whoever buys a combination ticket can conveniently take along his or her bike on the entire or part of the route in the self-load wagon. Children with a Junior Pass travel for free including bike transportation. Details ____________________ BIKE TRANSPORTATION TO GORNERGRAT The Gornergrat Bahn is also a mountain bike train. A day ticket for bikers with flat rate for bikes makes unlimited use of the train for mountain bike riders available for an entire day. Escorted children with a Junior Pass travel for free, package price for their bike. Details ____________________ BIKE TRANSPORTATION With a package price, a mountain bike can ride on all of the mountain lifts and trains in the Zermatt excursion area. You just need a mountain lift ticket such as a one-way ticket, day ticket or multi-day ticket. Details ____________________ Seite 7 NEWS FOR FAMILIES. WOLLI KIDS FESTIVAL FOR FAMILIES Wolli, Zermatt’s mascot for children, invites them to the Wolli Kids Festival. This is about exciting adventures in the village and at Leisee, Zermatt’s swimming beach at 2,232 m. The theme is pirates – with a treasure hunt, pirate feast and concert. A day rich in variety for the entire family. 4 August 2017 Details ____________________ WOLLI SUMMER FUN – ALSO FOR JUST ONE DAY OR HALF-DAY Wolli is Zermatt’s mascot for children. This young black-nose sheep invites every child to the Wolli Summer Fun event each summer. For one week there are different events in the mountains and village that they can experience each day. For example, on the programme are a day in the cable park, a visit to the Glacier Palace or a day among the marmots. Activity days can be booked either for an entire week or now also for just one full day or half-day. From 26 June to 18 August 2017 Details ____________________ Seite 8 TOP EVENTS. ZERMATT OPEN-AIR THEATRE Every two years, the Open-Air Theatre “Freilichtspiele Zermatt” appears at 2,600 m – within view of the Matterhorn. In the summer of 2017: “Romeo and Juliet at Gornergrat”.