Sunday, September 27, 2015

ZERMATT IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL SWITZERLAND AS THE BEST VIEWS OF WORLD FAMOUS MATTERHORN ARE FOUND HERE! SO MAKE SURE YOU VISIT AND STAY IN ONE OF THE AWESOMELY CHARMING SWISS CHALETS AND TAKE A TRAIN UP TO ADMIRE THE MATTERHORN!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

ZERMATT – MATTERHORN  WINTER 2015/2016 NEWS.  





  
The destination Zermatt – Matterhorn gave itself a gift during the jubilee marking 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn in 2015. 

On one hand this winter is the kickoff of many exciting innovations. More than anything else, however, it is about pure holiday enjoyment, winter fun and skiing pleasure for every lover of winter or those who will certainly become one.    











  
HOTEL AND HOLIDAY APARTMENT NEWS. 
Where are the best hotels in which one feels most comfortable? The rankings from TripAdvisor and other web platforms regularly show Zermatt accommodations are top rated. Hotel and holiday apartment owners are investing constantly and offering guests new services.   

Destination accommodations      
HOTEL SCHÖNEGG RENOVATED 
The renewal of the rooms carried out in stages has been completed. More than everything else, the redesigning of the bathrooms was important for the owners, the Metry family. The new oak parquet in the rooms creates comfort. Only the view of the Matterhorn has remained uniquely the same.   

Chalet Hotel Schönegg       
NEW SALT WATER BATHS IN THE HOTEL ARCA 
The renovation of the Hotel Arca Solebad – salt water baths – meant an investment of one million Swiss francs: the swimming pool is completely new, a salt-water bath resulted, 34°C warm with bubble lounge chairs, massage jets and a swimming area. 

The quiet room, as well as the wellbeing area in place since 2009, was carefully refreshed. The salt-water bath and the wellbeing area can also be booked by non-hotel guests.    
  
  
NEW CONCEPT IN THE HOTEL MATTHIOL 
The restructured Hotel Matthiol offers 33 rooms. Half of the new rooms are equipped with a private spa. The fitness room is larger and more modern. The hotel bar offers snacks throughout the day along with homemade baked goods at tea time every day. 

Regional products are offered in the steak restaurant with its show kitchen and view of the grill, but steak is still the star of the show. Fondue is served in four gondolas in the hotel garden.  

ALPENHOF WELLNESS HOTEL  
42 recently renovated rooms. The interior architects Cavigelli & Rinderknecht have taken their inspiration for the original Zermatt and allowed that to flow into a comfortable Valais style of modern and elegant furnishings. A symbiosis that guarantees comfort and a sense of wellbeing.   
       
APARTHOTEL PANORAMA SKI LODGE 
Located in the Winkelmatten part of the village, the recently built Aparthotel Panorama Ski Lodge has 30 beds in three apartments for 4 persons each and three apartments for 6 persons each. All apartments have a view of the Matterhorn. In the lowest floor, a sauna, steam bath and small fitness room is available for all guests to use.  

HOTEL RIFFELHAUS  
The Hotel Riffelhaus with its own spa has now be categorised as a 4-star hotel at the highest altitude in Europe. Here, guests are pampered at 2,548 m. With ski-in and ski-out, because the hotel is in the middle of the Gornergrat ski and winter hiking area.  
      
CHALET AMORE 
Cosy atmosphere is guaranteed by the interior reconstruction of the old chalet using old wood and a wood stove. The chalet is situated in the older part of the village of Täsch (5 km down the valley from Zermatt). Two bedrooms, a cosy living room, modern kitchen and bathroom with shower offer enough space for four people. With balcony and seating.  
     
HOTEL CHESA VALESE  
All rooms and room bathrooms have been renovated in the Hotel Chesa Valese. A rustic feeling in the bright wood worked into the rooms with a real love for detail and Alpine flair. All rooms come equipped with a bathrobe, personal hygiene products, LCD 43-inch widescreen TV, WLAN, safe, refrigerator with soft drinks, and a tea and coffee bar.  
  
CUISINE. 
Zermatt, Switzerland’s Alpine village with the greatest selection of culinary experiences. From earthy to haute cuisine. From an Alpine eatery to the In location. 17 restaurants in the village and the mountains combine for a total of 238 points in the Swiss Gault Millau Restaurant Guidebook. Zermatt is the village for gourmets par excellence.  

Restaurants     
CERVO PURO 
The Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort combines a mountain range view with hunting cabin charm and perfect-precise comfort. The in-house casual fine dining restaurant award 14 Gault Millau points radiates in a fresh look and new names. 

The restaurant Cervo Puro impresses with its new interior, rich colour scheme and simply captivating cuisine. The design lends the restaurant a cosmopolitan touch without losing it radiant sense of high-Alpine comfort. Primarily regional and locally sourced sustainable products are served.   

Mountain Boutique Hotel Cervo    
HOTEL MIRABEAU: RESTAURANT VERANDA 
Alpine casual dining prepared by chef Alain Kuster. His gourmet restaurant Le Corbeau d’Or was awarded 16 points by Gault Milliau. Now he also cooks for his guests in a laid back and easy going restaurant with the new name “Veranda”: Alpine cuisine with exquisite à la carte dishes and a 5- course dinner changing daily. Products from the region. And everything in the winter garden with a view of the Matterhorn.  
  
RESTAURANT WALDHAUS 
The Restaurant Ried moves into Winkelmatte inside the Restaurant Waldhaus with a sunny terrace and direct view of the Matterhorn where it offers its countless regular guests a new home. The new Gaststube is bright and friendly, refined and well-known dishes are served. 

Always on the menu card: the popular cordon bleu, cake in a glass and accompanied by a good wine from the cellar of Patrick and Beatrix Nayer.  

RESTAURANT ALPHITTA 
Dave and Tanja change their mountain: from Schwarzsee to Riffelalp and into the Alphitta. The groove of live music and the homemade specialties remain.   
          
RESTAURANT EAT 1818 DRINK 
The former Restaurant Heimberg is now run as “Eat 1818 Drink” by André and Simone Seiler, the managing couple from the Hotel Monte Rosa. The interior remains in the style of the Zermatt artist Heinz Julen. Carlo Kuster from the neighbouring village of Randa is the chef du cuisine. The food concept is regional, Alpine, modern, traditional and at a fair price level. The wine selection is also regionally oriented. Live music on certain days during digestive times.   

NEW: ZERMATT BEER  
The Zermatt master brewer takes it very seriously. That’s good, because Zermatt Beer is not just any old beer but rather the first to be brewed in a Zermatt brewery. Zermatt Matterhorn Special is an unfiltered, unpasteurised beer with 5.0% alcohol. The local Treberwurst (sausage) is also flavoured on the drafT.  

Zermatt Bier       
NEW: BLACKNOSE BEER 
The first Mountain Pale Ale of Switzerland is also made using hay for flavouring from the meadows where the blacknose sheep graze. This beer is to be enjoyed in the Tradition Julen operations, such as the Pupperla Pub. Of course, the hay comes from the Julen meadows as well.   
       
NEW IN THE WALLISERHOF: THEDI’S 
The Coffee & Tea House in Hotel Walliserhof reinterpreted: The name Thedi is in ancestral honour of Theodor (Thedi) Welschen, who successfully managed the hotel for over 50 years. The menu offering is from tradition to modern – from chai-latte or espresso via ten different tea varieties to small baked goods such as muffins, raw food balls, cinnamon buns, cupcakes. Old school and Scandinavian style.   

HÖFU’S MOUNTAIN RESTAURANT  
Höfu’s Mountain Restaurant is not far away from the village of Zermatt. It is possible to spend a cosy, comfortable evening there. Therefore, the restaurant has a programme ready for guests: Cheese fondue over a wood fire under open skies and carriage fondue in the carriage.   

OFFERS, PACKAGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
The numbers make it clear: The destination Zermatt – Matterhorn has its finger on the pulse of the times and continuously offers important changes and extensions to its services without ignoring the traditions, nature and past zeitgeist of Zermatt.   

Facts & Figures     
THE MATTERHORN PLAZA: A GATHERING PLACE 
Once again in the 2015-2016 winter, guests can hang out and relax outside on the Matterhorn Plaza in front of the Grandhotel Zermatterhof, have something to drink at the Ice bar or purchase souvenirs and tickets in the Pop-up Store. This is the place in Zermatt to refresh oneself in the pure winter air and also the place where the celebrations for the jubilee year for 150 Years First Ascent of the Matterhorn continue.  
   
TURBINA: AN EVENT LOCATION 
Inspiring moments in the decommissioned Turbina power plant, built at the Findelbach by the Gornergrat Bahn in 1898. Its exclusive purpose was to generate electricity for the train up to Gornergrat. The Turbina is a location to inspire customers, guests and employees, and it is perfect for birthday festivals, parties, meetings, presentations and much more.   

NEW HIRLI CHAIRLIFT CONSTRUCTION 
The Hörnli ski lift was in operation from 1962 until April 2015. For the coming winter ski season, it will give way to a six-seat chairlift. The chairlift covers a stretch of 2.1 km. Besides the new mountain lift, a new piste route and full-cover snowmaking equipment will also be completed. This results in an enormous increase in attractiveness for the whole Schwarzsee ski area.   
  
FREE WLAN IN THE ZERMATT SKI AREA 
All of the Zermatt Bergbahnen AG stations are equipped with free WLAN. As soon as a guest selects the WLAN, a splash welcome page appears. Users have access to various content on this page at no charge, such as the interactive panorama map, the weather forecast or access to their own Facebook page.   
     
SKI GUIDE APP 
The centrepiece of the free app is the navigation function with which guests can find their way around the area and be guided to a location. The app calculates the route using the user’s entered skiing skills and accesses current data, such as the opening hours of the lifts and restaurants as well as the weather forecast.   

DINING WITH THE STARS 
Spectacular views from the observatory dome on Gornergrat. This provides a spectacular view into the next universe – in the company of an astronomer from the University of Bern or Geneva. Added to this, Fondue chinoise à discretion at the Gornergrat. And the star guide Peter Salzmann explains the names of the constellations through Greek mythology and legends.  
Gornergrat Bahn     

NEW “HOWETTE” PISTE RETURN ROUTE 
Beginning at the lower National piste, a new route leads back to the valley. The Howette piste runs above Riedweg and solves the problem of the previous dual use for winter sports and neighbourhood development during the valley descent. While the winter sports participants go to the valley along a new piste route, the neighbourhood residents use Riedweg with the new pedestrian tunnel from Gryffelblatte.  
   
TANDEM SPEED FLYING 
Tandem speedflying with airborne rides, a parachute is flown which is about half the size of a normal tandem paraglider. Since the speed is much higher, speedflying tandem flights are only possible on skis.   

CELEBRATIONS TO MARK THE TRAIN JUBILEE  
1891-2016: The 125-Year Jubilee of the Visp- Zermatt Train Route. The 125th anniversary will be celebrated over 125 hours. The beginning of festive week is on Monday, 18 July 2016 at 5 pm in Visp, and the festive week ends in Zermatt on Gornergrat with a party for everyone on Saturday, 23 July 2016 at 10 pm. Nostalgic trains are underway daily and event staged hikes will also be offered along the train route.   
    
IGLOO LUNCH FONDUE 
New package offering from the Gornergrat Bahn: Travel with the cog railway to Rotenboden. Then enjoy igloo fondue, a warm drink and a tour of the Igloo Village.   

Gornergrat Bahn          
WEBSHOP EXPANSION 
Beginning with the 2015-16 winter season, ski school packages will be offered through the Zermatt Bergbahnen AG Webshop along with tickets, adventures and ski rentals. Guests conveniently book their ski lesson online through one of the three Swiss Ski Schools recognised by Swiss Snowsports.   

ARTISTIKA  
On 9 March 2016, one can see the winner of the Artistika International Artist Festival live in the Mont Cervin Palace. Amazement is expressly permitted.   

HIGH-CLASS – ZERMATT – SHOPPING. 
Zermatt – that is also a great shopping experience. Watches and jewellery sparkle in the display windows, and alluring scents waft from the bakeries. For mountain tours, it is possible to put together the best outfitting and have professional tips from the locals included. And remember that loved ones at home are waiting for a souvenir from Zermatt.  

Shopping     
MONT BELL OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT STORE 
Mont Bell now has a location on the Bahnhofplatz in the centre of Zermatt. The outdoor outfitter, founded by Isamu Tatsuno from Japan, concentrates without compromising on quality, sustainability and function. Mont Bell continuously develops a balanced and broad range of products, which can be used under extreme conditions.    
     
HUBLOT STORE 
There is now a Hublot Store at Bahnhofstrasse 27 in Zermatt. Hublot watches are manufactured with precision handcraft. The company’s philosophy of “the art of fusion”. It stretches from the aesthetic and technical refinement of traditional precious metals through new alloys all the way to innovations in the limitless territory of composite materials.           
    
PREVIEW OF THE COMING SUMMER. 
The motto for the coming summer remains expanding experiences and future orientation. The insider’s tip of Zermatt as a paradise for bikers will be broadcast further to make it accessible to everyone. And who would like to marvel at a glacier from up close?  

Summer in Zermatt     
GLACIER PATH TO THE GORNER GLACIER  
A glacier trail is coming into existence at Furi above Zermatt. It leads to the tip of the Gorner Glacier with 16 information boards along the way. The Gorner Glacier is the second largest glacier in the Alps after the Aletsch Glacier.   

Tour finder       
BIKE STRATEGY ZERMATT - MATTERHORN 
A specific classification system also now exists for bike apartments. Here are some of the features: A locking storeroom for mountain bikes exists; a cleaning room with running water is available. A rental and repair service for mountain bikes can be arranged or is available. Guests are offered documentation for mountain bike tours in the vicinity, and the hosts can arrange guided mountain bike tours. In addition, a new Flow Trail will be added.   
Bike riding in Zermatt    
   
ZERMATT SKI SCHOOL OFFERS BIKE GUIDING 
The local ski teachers are following the trend and learnt how to guide using bikes during the summer. These licensed bike guides show guests the Zermatt – Matterhorn destination from the saddle.  
        
LORIHIISCHI 
The Lorihiischi, the residence museum in Randa, will be dedicated in the fall of 2016. The historic building complex from the 15th to 18th centuries is undergoing restoration. Beginning in the autumn of 2016, it will serve as a residence museum. What is sensational is that the building substance of the structures from past centuries has been retained back to 1709 and before.   
     
KLETTERGARTEN DOSSEN 
The area of Dossen is formed and shaped by the glaciers. The area above the hamlet Furi is easily reachable in a few minutes by cable car. The six routes, in the climbing ranks of 5 and 6, has been remediated and is positioned in the brown and reddish rock. The rock face is aimed to the East and is the good place to climb in the early morning hours in the summer season.  


































































































































































































































































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