On the Italian border of Valais, the southernmost canton of French-speaking Switzerland, Zermatt nestles at the end of the 30 km Nikolaital valley, at an altitude of 1,620 meters and at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed mountain in the world. Nearly a third of the Alpine peaks over 4,000 meters majestically surround the ski resort of Zermatt, which has become a paradise for the most experienced mountaineers.
Zermatt’s location, facing the Matterhorn and at the heart of a huge hiking and winter sports region, makes it one of the most attractive vacation villages in the world. Its ski area includes 54 chairlifts and ski lifts and 360 kilometers of slopes. The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise region is the largest and highest summer ski area in Europe.
The climate is exceptional: with 300 days of sunshine per year, Zermatt has the lowest rainfall in Switzerland. The air in Zermatt is clear, dry, and clean, as only electric vehicles without combustion engines have been allowed to circulate in the village since 1947. Zermatt is also a shopping destination with its many stores on Bahnhofstrasse, the main shopping street.
The resort of Zermatt was visited several times in July 2011.
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