When it comes to mountains, Switzerland has more than it could shake a stick at. But for one particular mountain, its unique peak has gone on to become a symbol for Switzerland. Matterhorn’s pyramidal shape dominates Zermatt’s skyline and tourism, attracting both thrill seekers and casual explorers to its foreboding peaks.
Only expert climbers with the best equipment and knowledgeable guides are recommended to climb this mammoth, but for the more relaxed adventurers, there’s always the Klein Matterhorn cable car that takes you 3,883 meters up to Europe’s highest viewing platform, along with restaurants, a hotel, a winter sports region and Europe’s highest seminar room, making those dull presentations a little bit more exciting.
2015 marks a special year for the mountain, as it is 150 years since a British climber Edward Whymper became the first person to reach the 4,478 metre summit of the Matterhorn in 1865. So to celebrate this momentous anniversary, festivals and exhibitions will be held throughout the year, as well as the re-opening of the mountain hut Hörnli Hut.