Mattertal

Mattertal is a long Alpine valley in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It follows the course of the Matter River from Zermatt at the southern end, at the foot of the Matterhorn, northward toward the Visp valley and the Rhone basin.

Geography and landscape: The valley is bounded by high peaks of the Pennine Alps, including the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, the Weisshorn and Dent d’Hérens. The upper valley contains glaciers and conifer forests, with an Alpine climate and winters that bring frequent heavy snow.

Settlements and economy: The largest settlement is Zermatt, a renowned year-round mountain resort that is car-free. Other communities include Täsch, Randa and St. Niklaus. The economy is heavily based on tourism, with skiing and winter sports in winter and hiking and mountaineering in summer, supported by hospitality and services.

Transport and access: The Mattertal is connected to the Swiss rail network by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, running from Visp through Täsch and St. Niklaus to Zermatt. Road connections link the valley to Visp and the broader railway network; Zermatt itself is primarily accessed by train rather than by car.

Notable features: The area is dominated by the iconic Matterhorn. The Klein Matterhorn cable car provides access to high-altitude viewpoints near Europe’s highest cable car station, while panoramic rail and gondola routes, including the Gornergrat Bahn, offer extensive mountain scenery.