Description: This short
walk gives a solid introduction to the main features and attractions of
the village of Zermatt. Discover the best sports shops, supermarkets,
bars, nightclubs and viewpoints in one pleasant stroll. This walk offers
plenty of postcard quality vistas to the Matterhorn on a fine day.
Time required: About 20 minutes total
(All pretty much flat)
Difficulty:
*
Gentle
Popularity:
*****
Very Popular
Begins at: Zermatt railway station (1605m altitude)
Ends at: Bahnhofstrasse (1607m)
Goes via: Church square
(1620m), Steinmatte
Track Notes: This is a nice walk day or night. Walk
open all year.
Although Zermatt is surrounded by mountains, the only 4000m
peak visible from most of the village is the Matterhorn itself, sitting
spectacularly at the head of the valley.
Variants: Be sure to have a look at old Zermatt. Explore any
little cobbled alley which captures your attention.
The walk begins and ends at the main train station of Zermatt
(known as 'Bahnhof' in German).
There
are horses and sleighs, electric taxis, and most of the year this square
is a hive of activity. On the square itself is the Tourist Office, which
is useful for posters and free maps of the village. Nearby the Tourist
Office is Fotofast - a good photo shop. Just across the main street from
the railway station restaurant is the valley station of the Gornergrat
mountain railway (in German 'Gornergratbahn'). It is certainly worth a
visit to Gornergrat while in Zermatt. Also across the main street is the
'Viktoria CO-OP' center, which features one of Zermatt's biggest and
best supermarkets - the 'CO-OP'.
The
main street of Zermatt is known to locals as the Bahnhofstrasse. It runs
from the railway station 500 metres south to the main church square of
Zermatt.
So
walk south up the very gentle incline of the main street, past banks, bakeries,
jewellers, and sport shops. A rather inconspicuous McDonalds is on the
right, not far from the station. Continue straight on through a three
way intersection to the Pollux hotel. Downstairs below the Pollux lies
the T-bar nightclub. Walk past the attractive old Walliserhof and
Walliserkanne restaurants on your right.
Immediately
after the Walliserkanne, on the left is the very popular WEGA souvenir
shop, which features an excellent bookshop downstairs. Opposite the WEGA
is the post office centre. The post office itself is back a block from
the main street. Look for the yellow "Die Post" signs.
Moving
back up the main street, a few metres further on is the new Snow and
Alpine Center. Visit there for mountain guides, and bookings of ski
lessons. It is possible to buy multi day lift/ski passes at the center,
although you can also get these at any of the lift stations themselves.
Just
behind the Snow and Alpine Center is Zermatt's museum - an interesting
collection of Zermatt and Matterhorn memorabilia.
Opposite
the Snow and Alpine Center is the famous Hotel
Mont Cervin. Continuing on a few yards beyond the Snow and
Alpine Center is a delightful little creperie, low on the right.
Walk
through a small twist in the road, and on to the Hotel Post complex on
the left , and opposite on the right - Grampi's Pub (photo). The Hotel Post is
one of Zermatt's most famous establishments offering a multitude of
restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and now internet access in the street
side Brown Cow bar. Grampis is a very popular pub and nightclub for
young people.
Continue
up the main street to the historic Hotel
Monte Rosa, where the first climbers of the Matterhorn stayed.
Opposite the Monte Rosa are the luxurious grounds of the Hotel
Zermatterhof. Just beyond the Hotel Monte Rosa is the local library (in
German 'Gemeinde Bibliothek'), situated in a charming old
building. It features an excellent range of books on the Alps,
including a small English section.
Walking
along a few more metres one comes to the main church and square of
Zermatt, surrounded by some of Zermatt's oldest wooden buildings. The
cobbled main square is focal point for local events and is a good place
to sit down and watch the world go by - and gaze at the beauty of the
Matterhorn (photo). Across the main square is the
large Gemeindehaus - or local council building. Walk past the
council building to the Weisshorn restaurant/cafe/hotel and the Cafe du
Pont (photo left). These are two of the cheapest restaurants in Zermatt, in very
pleasant locations by the gushing waters of the Triftbach (Trift brook).
Just by the Triftbach itself are public telephones and toilets.
If
one was to continue walking south past the Cafe du Pont towards the
Matterhorn, the 'main
street' narrows and climbs a small hill, before descending to meet the
river, near the Matterhorn lifts.
But at the Cafe du Pont, turn
around to look back towards the church square, Zermatt's third largest
supermarket is on your right, marked with the sign "Lebensmittel,
Frischprodukte". Walk back to the church square, and turn right
down the 'Kirchstrasse' (church street), by the Marmot statue/fountain.
Walk downhill past the steeple end of the church (photo
left) where there is also a nice little park with benches
for relaxing.
Continue
downhill over the Triftbach which has run behind the church, to the
climber's graveyard on your left, and opposite it - the trendy 'Pipe'
bar, which also has public internet access. Just beyond this is ROC
Sport on the right. Nb. 10%
discount at Roc Sport Walk on to the bridge over Zermatt's river (the 'Mattervispa'),
where there is a fine view to the Matterhorn (photo
left).
Continue
on past the 'Old Zermatt' bar and grill, past Slalom Sport to a busy
four way intersection. The 'Papperla Pub' is a feature on one corner -
it is one of Zermatt's top après ski pubs. The intersection is an
important one on this east side of the river. A signpost points to a
multitude of destinations. The area surrounding the intersection is
known as 'Steinmatte'.
One
of Zermatt's best (and most down to earth) bars serves the tastiest
pizza in town. The 'North Wall Bar' is well known to Zermatt regulars
and is very popular with English speakers. It is a friendly place, and a
good place to meet prospective skiing or climbing partners. Open every
evening from about 6.30pm to midnight (in main winter & summer
seasons), you can find it by turning right
(south) at the Papperla intersection and walking a hundred metres or so.
Back
at the four way intersection, continue the Zermatt circuit by walking
around the Papperla Pub - heading north and keeping the pub on your
left. Pass the Hotel Astoria and walk down this quieter street. Walk by
a couple of less glamorous ski and sport shops, and past some gardens.
Over the gardens to your left you get a fine view up towards the
restaurant Edelweiss - perched on its
cliffs a thousand feet above Zermatt (photo).
Higher up and behind the Edelweiss and the narrow Trift valley is a fine
view to the peak of the Wellenkuppe (3903m).
Continue
downhill past the charming old chalets Franzen and Maria until the road
turns left and downhill to a busy intersection by the river. On the
right corner is the Hotel Parnass,
on the other is the 'Biner' bakery and tea rooms. Walk over the bridge
to stand between the restaurant Le Mazot and Hotel Excelsior. Walk
uphill on the main road between them and on until passing the fine old Chalet Adler
on the right. In clear weather, from here one can look high up to the
right to the rocky rounded summit of the Unter Rothorn (3100m). Unter
Rothorn is the high point of one of Zermatt's winter ski areas, and also the starting
point for one of our hikes.
Continue uphill past the 'PAM Super Discount' supermarket and walk straight
on to the big orange 'M's of Migros. Along with the Co-Op by the
station, Migros is the largest and cheapest supermarket in Zermatt (and
Switzerland for that matter). Migros also features a surprisingly
well-stocked department store
downstairs.
Just
beyond Migros on the right are the stadium tennis courts (summer)/ice skating
rink (winter). Opposite the courts is the very fashionable cinema and bar
'Vernissage'. The Vernissage was very creatively designed and decorated
by a local artist, and I recommend catching a movie there for another
unique Zermatt experience. Next to the Vernissage is one of Zermatt's best sport
shops: Julen Sport & Mode (fashion) Nb. 10%
discount at Julen Sport.
Continue
on past 'Zap Books and Stationary' back to the intersection with the main
street or Bahnhofstrasse. The Hornli Tea Rooms are straight ahead. The Pollux
and Walliserkanne are to your left. To
your right is McDonalds and just beyond McDonalds is the railway station
where we started.
That's it! You now know the main shopping and
nightlife areas of Zermatt.
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