The Matterhorn
- Visit: more than 3 hours
- from CHF 1200
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Why go
- See the Matterhorn’s near-symmetric pyramid and four steep faces from Zermatt.
- Ride the Gornergrat railway, which reaches 3,100 metres.
- Visit the Matterhorn Museum’s recreated mountain village and see objects from the first ascent.
- Ski in summer on the Plateau Rosa glacier in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise area.
History
The German name “Matterhorn” first appeared in 1682. Horace-Bénédict de Saussure studied the mountain in the late 18th century. After the 1865 ascent, a rush to climb the mountains around Zermatt followed. Railway construction to Zermatt began in 1888, and the first train arrived on 18 July 1891.
- 100 BCE–400 CERomans and the Romanised Salassi used Theodul Pass, just east of the Matterhorn, as a crossing and trade route.
- 1862John Tyndall and four guides reached the southwest shoulder, now called Pic Tyndall, but a deep cleft stopped them below the summit.
- 14 July 1865Edward Whymper led the first successful ascent from Zermatt via the Hörnli ridge. Four of the seven climbers died during the descent.
- 17 July 1865Jean-Antoine Carrel and Jean-Baptiste Bich reached the summit from the Italian side.
- 1871Lucy Walker became the first woman to reach the summit.
Show all
- 1876Three English climbers made the first ascent without guides.
- 1962The west face was climbed in full for the first time.
- 1983The glaciated landscape between the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa received federal recognition as a natural monument.
Tips for your visit
- The Tour of the Matterhorn takes about ten days and follows old trails through six valleys and three cultures.
How to get there
- TrainTake the train to Zermatt, which is reachable only by public transport.
- Cable carFor access to Hörnli Hut, take the cable car from Zermatt to Schwarzsee, then continue on foot to the hut at 3,260 metres.
Shorts
Interesting facts4
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The Matterhorn has two summits at opposite ends of a 100-metre exposed rocky crest that marks the border and watershed.
Matterhorn - Wikipedia -
A banner cloud often forms on the sheltered side of the summit.
Matterhorn - Wikipedia -
A layer of marble forms the summit.
Cervin - Wikipedia -
The name combines German words for meadow and horn, often rendered as “peak of the meadows.”
Matterhorn - Wikipedia
Sources: Matterhorn - Wikipedia · Matterhorn - Wikipedia (part 2) · Matterhorn - Wikipedia (part 3) · Zermatt - Wikivoyage (do) · Matterhorn - Wikipedia · Matterhorn - Wikipedia · Cervin - Wikipedia · Cervino - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Nearby places
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Where to stay nearby
Questions and answers
Which side of the Matterhorn is Italian?
The south face lies on the Italian side; the other three faces lie on the Swiss side.
What is the normal climbing route from Italy?
The Lion ridge, which crosses Pic Tyndall.
What is the Matterhorn called locally?
In local Valais dialect, it is nicknamed “Horu.”
Why does little snow cling to the faces?
The faces are steep, and regular avalanches carry snow down to glaciers at their bases.
Is the Klein Matterhorn cable car on the Matterhorn?
No. The cable-car area is on the nearby Klein Matterhorn, a separate mountain, and reaches 3,883 metres.
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