THE MAGICAL MATTERHORN!

The Matterhorn is nicknamed the Mountain of Mountains. It’s a place that many people dream about seeing in their lifetime, and I definitely could not wait to see this amazing mountain in Switzerland. When I lived in Switzerland for the summer in college, I did not have a chance to visit the magical Matterhorn, so, I knew that I’d want to see this special spot as soon as possible.

Each February, the schools in Switzerland are off for two weeks for Fasnacht (Carnival)/Winter Break. With that said, the girls and I have lots of free time! Due to Covid restrictions, our activities are limited, but we can take trains and be outside. So, we decided to venture up to Zermatt and Gornergrat to see the Matterhorn. It was quite the journey as it took about four hours with two trams and four trains each way, but it was definitely worth it!

So, why is the Matterhorn such a famous sight? Well, the Matterhorn was formed millions of years ago when different land masses slammed into each other and forced these land masses upward resulting in a pyramid looking peak. This peak actually has four sides, and they all align with the cardinal directions. In addition, the Matterhorn straddles the Swiss and Italian border.

Once we arrived in Zermatt, we hopped on the Gornergrat Bahn, or the Matterhorn Railway, to go to the top of Gornergrat. This train goes 3,089 meters, or about 10,135 feet, above sea level, and it takes thirty-three minutes for the journey.

On the train ride up the mountain, there are stunning views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountain-scape. It is seriously jaw-dropping to see the amazing mountains full of snow all around you. Once you arrive at the top, there is a hotel, restaurants, shopping, skiing, restrooms, a tiny Church and a Grand Tour photo spot.

A few tips for once you get to the top:

1. Bring sunscreen – Even though it may be cold, the sun shines strong at 3,089 meters.
2. Don’t forget water – 3,089 meters is high for people who are not used to it. Water helps!
3. Wear gloves – There’s lots of snow in the winter so bring waterproof gloves to enjoy some snowball fights!

We spent about an hour at the top, but we could have spent much longer if we were skiing, sledding, winter hiking, eating in the restaurant, etc.. Afterwards, we headed down to Zermatt to explore the car-free city! We found a great playground to tire the kids out before the train journey home.

It was one of those special mommy-daughter days that I will never forget! The girls really enjoyed it as well, and I hope they always remember it. I also cannot wait to bring my husband back to the area to experience the Matterhorn’s beauty. Maybe in the spring??

Would you like to see this iconic mountain? Thank you so much for wandering along with us!