150 Jahre Erstbesteigung Matterhorn. EN 150e anniversaire de la première ascension du Cervin. 150 years first ascent of the Matterhorn. 150Program © Robert Boesch, Mammut. PEAK PARTNER OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ASCENT OF THE MATTERHORN POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY TISSOT T-TOUCH EXPERT SOLAR T-TOUCH.COM 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn Contents Matterhorn – The Mountain of Mountains 4 Books about the Matterhorn 17 Foreword 5 Base Camp Matterhorn / Hörnlihütte 18 Base Camp Matterhorn / Hörnlihütte, old and new History 7 Agenda 20 – 21 The Highlight 8 Freilichtspiele Zermatt, open-air performances Packages & offers 22 – 23 «The Matterhorn Story» Special projects 24 Festivity week 9 – 13 Anniversary projects All celebratory events Thanks to our partners 25 Regular events to mark the anniversary 14 Zermatt and the Matterhorn 26 Matterhorn Plaza – the meeting place 15 The focal point of festivities PEAK PARTNER OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ASCENT OF THE MATTERHORN Films and TV documentaries 16 POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY We reserve the right to make changes and additions. TISSOT T-TOUCH EXPERT SOLAR Information at www.zermatt.ch/150 T-TOUCH.COM 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn Matterhorn – The Mountain of Mountains The Matterhorn – mystical and majestic. The mountain of mountains. Nobody, neither residents nor visi- tors, can resist its fascinating appeal. A triangular piece of jagged rock that towers into the sky, alone on the horizon. A magnet for Alpinists, an aesthetic emblem, a mountain with the perfect dimensions. With precipitous rock, enchanting light and the effects of clouds and colours, it is impossible to tire of looking at the Matterhorn. Zermatt’s trademark measures 4,478m in height and up to 3,000 Alpinists reach its summit every year. By way of an exception, the Matterhorn will be closed to Alpinists on 14th July. Why? See page 11. 5 Foreword In 2015, Zermatt is celebrating its mountain, the Matterhorn. We would like to invite all of you, guests and residents alike, to take part in all of the events. We are looking forward to celebrating with you the mountain of mountains, the Matterhorn. Best wishes, your hosts: Christoph Bürgin (president of the local authority), Andreas Biner (president of the citizens’ community), Hermann Biner (mountain guide representative), Daniel F. Lauber (president of the Zermatt hoteliers’ association), Hans-Jörg Walther (president of Zermatt Tourism) and Daniel Luggen (director of Zermatt Tourism). The shelters of the former pop-up hotel on the Hirli will be on the Gornergrat in summer 2015 (image: Marc Kronig) Matterhorn Whymper Pass Anniversary price from CHF 69.–* * Price with General Pass or Half-Price Pass; standard price CHF 98.– Children up to 16 years with a Junior travelcard travel free on the Gornergrat Bahn (extras not included). Like the mountaineers of 150 years ago, you will be able to experience the first as- cent of the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat. Naturally, a photo will also be taken to enable proof of the first ascent of the Matterhorn to be sent and posted online. What’s included: Zermatt – Gornergrat return travel, first ascent memorial photo against the Matterhorn, an entry in the summit guestbook, a summit drink and mountaineer’s platter, a souvenir from 1865. Valid from 01.06 until 25.10.2015 The highest altitude open-air performances in Europe on the Gornergrat "The Matterhorn Story" 09.07. until 29.08.2015, information: www.freilichtspiele-zermatt.ch >> More information on www.gornergrat.ch, Tel. +41 (0)848 642 442 or at counter Zermatt. GGB_35-0162_Ins_WhymperPass_148x210.indd 2 26.02.15 10:01 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn 7 History On 14th July 1865, the first rope team in history reached the summit of the Matterhorn (4,478m). The team was led by Zermatt mountain guides father and son Taugwalder, as well as mountain guide Michel August Croz from Chamonix. Briton Edward Whymper was there too. Tragedy followed victory at the summit. Four of the seven Alpinists fell to their death on the descent – Michel Auguste Croz, British Rev- erend Charles Hudson, noble Briton Lord Francis Douglas and Douglas Robert Hadow. Zermatt mountain guides father and son Taugwalder and Briton Edward Whymper survived. British monarch Queen Victoria heard about the accident and had a law prepared forbidding her subjects from climbing the Matterhorn. The law never did come into force. However, it was enough to motivate many mountaineers and Alpin- ists to travel to Zermatt. Tourism in Zermatt was born. 150 years later, Zermatt and its guests are doing Alpinists past and present the honour and celebrating the mountain. Matterhorn Whymper Pass * The rope team of first mountaineers, top row from the left: Peter Taugwalder (father), Reverend Charles Hudson, Douglas Rob- Anniversary price from CHF 69.– ert Hadow, Peter Taugwalder (son). Bottom row, from the left: Michel Auguste Croz, Lord Francis Douglas, Edward Whymper. * Price with General Pass or Half-Price Pass; standard price CHF 98.– Children up to 16 years with a Junior travelcard travel free on the Gornergrat Bahn (extras not included). Like the mountaineers of 150 years ago, you will be able to experience the first as- cent of the Matterhorn from the Gornergrat. Naturally, a photo will also be taken to enable proof of the first ascent of the Matterhorn to be sent and posted online. What’s included: Zermatt – Gornergrat return travel, first ascent memorial photo against the Matterhorn, an entry in the summit guestbook, a summit drink and mountaineer’s platter, a souvenir from 1865. Valid from 01.06 until 25.10.2015 The highest altitude open-air performances in Europe on the Gornergrat "The Matterhorn Story" 09.07. until 29.08.2015, information: www.freilichtspiele-zermatt.ch >> More information on www.gornergrat.ch, Tel. +41 (0)848 642 442 or at counter Zermatt. GGB_35-0162_Ins_WhymperPass_148x210.indd 2 26.02.15 10:01 The Highlight Freilichtspiele Zermatt - Open-Air Performances Zermatt «The Matterhorn Story» 9th July to 29th August 2015 The Freilichtspiele Zermatt, Zermatt open-air performances on the Riffelberg (2,600m) tell the exciting, dramatic and exceptional story of the first ascent and lets you immerse yourself in the Zermatt of 1865. An absolute «must» in summer 2015. Number of spaces: 700, Actors: more than 40 Performances: Wednesdays to Saturdays 7.30 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. Advance purchase: online Festivity week events 9 Festivity week 10th July to 18th July 2015 Friday, 10th July 2015 Event for regular visitors to Zermatt Tourists have been coming to Zermatt for more than 150 years. The Matter- horn village can count on loyal guests. We want to give you a special experi- ence, at your host’s invitation. Saturday, 11th July 2015 1865 Winkelmatten village festival The festivities officially begin during the Winkelmatten festival. The theme is 1865. How did the ancestors in Zermatt live and work? Sunday, 12th July 2015 Day of contemplation An anniversary is also always a reason to pause for thought. Guests and residents hike together to the ecumenical mountain service followed by a «Whymper picnic». The memorial stone of dead and missing Alpinists will be unveiled and blessed in the village during the late afternoon. Festivity week events Festivity week 10th July to 18th July 2015 Sunday, 12th July 2015 Mountaineers’ cemetery - commemorative stone for unknown Alpinists Unpleasant surprises such as rock falls, avalanches and changes in weather sometimes await Alpinists. The residual risk is every-present and for some, it ends in death. Zermatt has set up a memorial for the Alpinists who were unlucky. In the mountaineers’ cemetery, the many gravestones of the un- lucky make reference to their tragic fate. Now there is a new gravestone here, a commemorative stone for unknown Alpinists. Monday, 13th July 2015 Illumination of the Matterhorn The star will be lit up. Or rather the route of the first mountaineers to climb the Matterhorn. There will also be a party in the Steinmatte and on the Kirchbrücke, with the best view of the Matterhorn. Tuesday, 14th July 2015 Opening of the Hörnli hut / Base Camp Matterhorn Ceremonial opening of the starting point of every ascent of the Matterhorn, the «Base Camp Matterhorn» or simply, the new Hörnli hut. 11 Tuesday, 14th July 2015 Gala to celebrate 150 years first ascent of the Matterhorn Celebrations to mark the anniversary will be held in various hotels and restaurants. Tuesday, 14th July 2015 Inauguration of the «Walk of Climb» A stroll along Zermatt’s Bahnhofstrasse is fascinating, with shopping, peo- ple-watching and enjoying the sunshine. Now you can discover the «Walk of Climb» on the Bahnhofstrasse. The «Walk of Climb» immortalises Alpinists who achieved special peformance on the Matterhorn. Tuesday, 14th July 2015, Appeal to Alpinists Silence on the Matterhorn. 14th July 2015 marks the 150 years first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 when four Alpinists tragically fell to their death. The Alpine community remembers and pays respect to the 500 Alpinists who have so far lost their lives on the Matterhorn. For this reason, the Matterhorn will be closed to any Alpine activity on 14th July 2015. This applies to all ridges and routes on the Swiss and Italian sides. The Matterhorn is closed on Tuesday, 14th July 2015! Festivity week events Festivity week 10th July to 18th July 2015 Wednesday, 15th July 2015 «Be our guest» There are unfortunately still many Swiss who have never seen their nation- al symbol, the Matterhorn, in real life. This is something we want to change and we would like to invite our future guests to test and experience the great offers relating to the Matterhorn. Thursday, 16th July 2015 Alpine experience Zermatt has a tradition of mountaineering and Alpine skills.