Our first mention of Zermatt is in a purchase-deed dated 1280. In the year 1618 the last inhabitants of Zermatt were able to buy their liberty. In 1780 the first foreigners came to Zermatt and in 1838 the first guesthouse with three beds was opened. At the end of 1854 there were three guesthouses with a total of 67 beds.
At the turn of the century skiing was taken up for the first time in Zermatt. The actual start to a winter season was not until december 1927. The most important period of Zermatt's development to a world-known resort, however, only commenced towards the end fo the fifties. The Klein-Matterhorn cable car, the highest cable car in Europe, was inaugurated in the winter of 1979/80.
Today Zermatt has about 5'500 inhabitants and more than 110 hotels.
The History of Zermatt
Picture book of Zermatt
See the famous mountain-world of Zermatt !
