Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

I f you're drawn to a village strewn with edelweiss, epic cable cars whisking you to alpine peaks for spectacular hikes and skiing, and horse-drawn carriages or tiny electric cars dropping you off at Michelin- starred restaurants, then Zermatt is the place for you. Oh, and did we mention an almost unchanging blue sky framing one of the most famous mountains in the world? The Swiss charm of this place is off the charts. The Majestic Matterhorn With its snow-capped jagged peak, the majestic Matterhorn is the idea of a mountain, the one we drew as kids. Standing at 4,478 metres, it is one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps. Like a Hollywood starlet, the Matterhorn doesn't seem to have a bad angle when looking at it from Switzerland. Next-Gen Matterhorn Cable Car Climbs The Swiss have been innovating ways to get up to the best views of the Matterhorn by rail since man invented the cogwheel. The trains and cable cars that take you up and around moun- tains like the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise are mindboggling feats of engineering. To boot, trains are environmentally sensitive with sta- tions visually integrated into the pristine alpine landscape, and are operated with hydropower locally produced in Zermatt. This year, after four years of extreme-altitude construction, the incredible Matterhorn Alpine Crossing joins Swiss Rail's already incredible portfolio. Ascend the side of the Matterhorn via cableway on a wild 2,250-metre climb in luxurious Swarovski and Pininfarina-designed cabins with glass floors. At the viewing platform, marvel at 38 towering peaks over 4,000 metres high traversing two countries. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing connects Zermatt with the Italian ski resort Cervinia. Since its first trip in 1898, the iconic Gornergrat Railway has used regenerative braking power to improve energy efficiency. Last autumn it introduced the NostalChic Class. Hop aboard a carriage dating back to 1961 for an unforgettable day trip. Dine on locally infused menus at mountain restau- rants and listen to local legends about this historic cogwheel train. Skiing in a Class of its Own Zermatt hugs the borders of Switzerland and Italy, and the pluses of that proximity are many. Let's start with 360 kilometres of interconnected ski trails that include ski runs on the Italian side. And when you want to break for lunch or take in some après fun after a day on the slopes, you can channel Audrey Hepburn in Charade as you enjoy a drink on a snowy terrace of a café, have an Aperol spritz with Italians, or simply savour a perfect alpine dinner. And all this 365 days a year. TRAVEL PLANNER For more travel information about Zermatt, Switzerland see zermatt.swiss FALL/ WINTER 2024 DREAMSCAPES 41 DID YOU KNOW? The highest hotel in the Swiss Alps is the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat with the Matterhorn as its backdrop. From this heavenly perch, you can feast on crystal clear views of the Milky Way. DS BY KAREN BURSHTEIN Get to Know the Alpine Village that's the REAL SWISS DEAL IN ZERMATT PHOTOS: SWITZERLAND TOURISM/SYLVIA MICHEL | SWITZERLAND TOURISM/JAN GEERK | SWITZERLAND TOURISM

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