Zermatt - winter sports

Zermatt provides facilities for skiing throughout the year, with skiing grounds all lying at an altitude between 2,500 m/8,250ft and 3,900 m/12,800ft. They are accessible by numerous lifts: Schwarzsee-Trockener Steg-Theodul, Riffelberg-Gornergrat-Stockhorn, Sunnegga-Blauherd- Unterrothorn; in summer it is possible to ski on the Breithorn plateau (cableway to the Kleines Matterhorn) and on the Plateau Rosa (3,500 m/11,487ft) near the Theodul Pass. A special thrill can be had with heli-skiing or by taking part in a high-altitude ski-tour. There are delightful cross-country ski-runs (including a night-track of 3km/nearly 2mi, from Winkelmatten to Tutra) and about 50km/30mi of ski-tracks. In addition there are two natural-ice skating rinks and several curling rinks. Dominated by the Matterhorn, the picturesque, car-free town of Zermatt has long been a winter playground. And because it is far enough away from major centers it doesn't attract the big weekend crowds. Zermatt offers three ski areas on one pass, Switzerland's highest vertical drop (more than 7,000 feet) and the Klein Matterhorn glacier that allows skiing year-round. Descending from the glacier, skiers can stop for lunch in the Italian town of Cervinia before heading back to Switzerland for dinner.