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Switzerland's Famous Matterhorn |
The Matterhorn dominate the Alps and it is the desire to see of this famous,
crooked, peak up close that attracts so many visitors to Switzerland.
The view shown above is from Zermatt, a village at the base of the Matterhorn.
Although it is hard to image a better view, we think we have one the captures
the grandeur of the Mountain and the village when the sun goes down. For a
view of the Matterhorn and Zermatt at twilight,
click here. (The image is spectacular, but quite large. It is
well worth viewing, but we put it on a separate page in consideration of the
download time it would have added to this page.)
The village of Zermatt is at the heart of one of Switzerland's major ski
areas and surrounded by many of the country's tallest peaks. Zermatt is a
car-free resort and the closest you can get by car is Täsch, about three
miles away. Staying in Zermatt can be pricey, but it is truly a once in a
lifetime experience.
You can get to Zermatt using the Täsch-Zermatt shuttle train connects the
town. If you drive, fee-based parking in Täsch is available while you
visit Zermatt. (See the
Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn website for more information - use Google
Translator.) You can, also, take a train from Visp or Brig, but you will need to
transfer to the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn in Täsch for the final trip into town,
or take one of the taxis that are allowed to travel the route into Zermatt.
The town of Zermatt, the Matterhorn and the surrounding Alps make a
beautiful scene at any time of the year. For more vacation-oriented
information on the Matterhorn and Zermatt, visit the
Zermatt Tourism website.
The prominent mountain just right of center is the Jungfrau.
To the left are Mönch and the Eiger. The photo was taken from
Schilthorn (above and to the west of Murren) (All
photos © ThereArePlaces or its Suppliers) |
There are a number of famous mountains in the Alps, but few more famous
than "The Virgins". The Eiger (the Ogre) is west of the Mönch
(Monk)
and
the Jungfrau (Young Woman).
Climbing the North Wall of the Eiger is regarded as significant
accomplishment for skilled mountain climbers.
The Jungrfraubahn runs from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch, a
region known as "The Roof of Europe". The train runs in a tunnel for
most of the trip, which burrows beneath the Eiger and Mönch to reach the
summit. There are two brief stops along the way that provide views
from windows cut through the mountains. Note: the cost of the train is
expensive, although you find significant discounts if you have the
Swiss Card, More information on the train can be found at the website of
the
Jungfrau Ski Region.
The north slope of the Eiger |
If you need information about another travel destination, try our
Destination Guide Index
or Googling the web.
(All photos © ThereArePlaces or its Suppliers)
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| For Switzerland's national tourism site, click
here. |
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