The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is one of 14,691 different summits in the Alps that are over 4,000 meters tall.
The Matterhorn is also one of the most iconic mountains in Europe.
The magnificent mountain is part of the Pennine Alps mountain chain which runs along the Northern side of the Western Alps.
It lies on a route to one of the major Alpine four-thousand, four mountain peaks over 4,000 meters tall – Monte Rosa, Grand Combin, Lyskamm, or Dom – which can be reached by heading northward from Zermatt on a historic traverse across glaciers without almost any climbing.
The Matterhorn is known for its steep slopes, especially on the mountain’s west face which makes it one of the most challenging mountains to climb.
It has an average gradient of about 85 degrees (which is equivalent to the angle between a flat surface and a slope that goes directly upwards).
Getting there
The mountain is somewhat far away for international tourists to visit it.
However, this does not stop people from around the world travel to Zermatt for its famous mountains and hiking trails.
The Matterhorn can be reached by train or foot. If you decide to hike up the mountain, make sure you are prepared with some decent walking shoes because there will be snow on the ground which makes walking difficult.
Another way to reach the top of the mountain is through a cable car that takes passengers straight above some parts of Zermatt where they can enjoy an amazing view of the Swiss Alps below them which includes several surrounding peaks like Breithorn (4,158 meters), Monte Rosa (4,634 meters) and Weisshorn (4,505 meters).
History
The Matterhorn is mainly known for its sharp cone shape.
Its height varies depending on the source, but it is usually listed as being 14,692 feet tall which makes it one of the highest mountains in Europe.
The mountain has gone through several names throughout history including Mont Cervin or Monte Cervino in Italian and Mont Untergan in German.
The name Matterhorn comes from the German word ‘berg’ meaning mountain and ‘matter’ which means leprosy – a reference to the once diseased cow’s skin used to cover some parts of the mountain.
It was first climbed in 1865 by an English team led by Edward Whymper, who died along with four other climbers during their descent.
However, during their descent, four of his members fell down to their death after one of the guide ropes holding them together got damaged by rocks falling from above.
This tragedy turned into one of its biggest mysteries how it happened.
No matter how hard they tried, historians couldn’t figure out what went wrong that day and it remains unknown until today.
One thing is for sure though – all teams keep some spare rope just in case the main guide gets damaged or lost on purpose.
Culture
The Matterhorn has inspired many painters, composers, and authors who all wrote about the mountain’s beauty.
It was painted by Paul Klee in 1923 where he depicted it as a hiker.
Another famous painting of this majestic mountain is one done by English painter David 1 st which was completed in 1864.
The score for the last movement of Swiss composer Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 was composed during a visit to Switzerland after Göran Hugo Olsson asked him to accompany him on an aerial trip around Mont Blanc that included Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
The music then became known as “Peer Gynt – Bergensli” or “Matterhorn” – the opening theme for this movement.
Surrounding area
The surrounding area of the Matterhorn is one of the most beautiful places in Europe. The region is full of plenty of different activities to do like skiing, climbing, hiking, and more.
It has wonderful mountains for backpacking with magnificent views that will make you want to become a hiker too!
Some popular hikes include the Weisshorn (4,505 meters) which can be reached by either taking an aerial cable car or by hiking along Lake Thun.
Lauterbrunnen is another wonderful place to explore from Zermatt.
The Jaunpass is also a well-known part of the area with its cable cars which reach up to Weisshorn’s peak.
Where to stay and dine
The Matterhorn is a popular tourist destination, thus there are plenty of hotels for you to choose from near the mountain.
If you want to stay in one that provides both good service and great prices, then consider staying at Hotel La Maison Suisse.
It has decent facilities while still being able to provide you with European hospitality while also giving its visitors a chance to experience Zermatt’s Swiss culture.
What makes this hotel better than others is because it gives back to the community by partnering up with several foundations which help children around Europe through sports – skiing being one of them.
Another great place to check out when in Zermatt is The Matterhorn Museum Restaurant, where the menu includes local specialties including cheese fondue, raclette, and tartiflette.
The restaurant also has a splendid view of the Matterhorn which you might want to check out if ever given a chance during your visit along with its handicrafts as souvenirs.
Conclusion
Visiting the Matterhorn Mountain is an amazing experience. Once you get there, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of nature and its wonderful creations.
You also get to see Switzerland’s culture through the people who call this area home.
The Matterhorn Mountain remains to be one of the top destinations in Europe offering a lot of different activities for everyone to enjoy even until today.