Trip to Zermatt, Switzerland 15~17 June 2013/ Family Travelogue

continued from Train travel from Lucerne to Zermatt

From Lucerne City, we traveled by train to Zermatt.  We booked two nights stay at Chalet Medi.  The moment we arrived in Zermatt, we felt two nights stay would not be enough.  The town was so lovely, we could just stroll around breathing  fresh air.  The village is surrounded by mountains.  Chalet Medi has a magnificent view of the Alps as well.  Summer has just started, we were spared of the snow caps.

Initially, we intended to go up to Gornergrat and Matterhorn.   We were able to climb Gornergrat (by cogway train), the kids begged off Matterhorn.  We had enough mountains for this trip and they prefer to cycle around the village.

Chalet Medi is a 7 mins walk from the train station.  We just walked with our luggage up to the chalet.

A bit pricy though, the chalet was big with three bed rooms, separate toilet and bath, living room. and kitchen equipped with the basic utensils  There were some ingredients in the cupboards left by the previous occupants.  Our two daughters chose the bigger rooms and we ended up the smallest bedroom.  Anyway, let the kids enjoy. More so, free wifi and the connection was really excellent.  

Electric car in Zermatt, Switzerland

Electric car in Zermatt, Switzerland

Horse-drawn carriages in Zermatt

Zermatt is a car-free zone.  Passenger cars vehicles allowed in the village are the horse-drawn carriage and the small electric/battery driven taxis. To prevent air pollution that could ruin the view of the Matterhorn from the village, cars that run by fuel are not allowed in Zermatt.  If you go to Zermatt by car, you could leave your car in Tasch and take the train shuttle from there.  The five kilometer route takes about 12 minutes to get to the auto-free village.  The shuttle trains depart every 20 minutes.

Horse-drawn carriages in Zermatt

 The youngest was worried the horse might kick her.

As soon we were settled at Chalet Medi, we went to COOP for grocery supplies for two days.  COOP was just opposite the train station.

After lunch, we started our journey to Gornergrat.  Ooops... we did not hike, we took the cogway train.

Please click the link for our trip to Gornergrat.

German sausage for breakfast.  If we could only stay in Zermatt for more days.  So great to live in a quiet and peaceful place with a very nice weather.

Our second day in Zermatt, we cancelled our trip to Matterhorn.  We rented four bicycles and we cycled around the marvelous city of Zermatt.

Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius (Parish Church of St Mauritius),  Zermatt

Switzerland is the best among the countries we had visited during our trip to Europe in June 2013.  Special mentioned Zermatt among the cities we had been to Switzerland.

We left Zermatt on 17 June 2013 and continued our Europe trip to Geneva.

To continue Europe Trip June 2013, please click the link, Trip to Geneva, Switzerland

See also:

Family World Travel

Gornergrat, Zermatt Switzerland ALPS sightseeing/ Family Travelogue 15 June 2013

The Gornergrat (Gorner Ridge) is a rocky ridge of the Pennine Alps, 3,135m above sea level, overlooking the Gorner Glacier.

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

It can be reached by the Gornergrat Bahn, the highest open-air railway in Europe

Gornegrat Bahn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Train fares as follows:

Individuals	oneway			return
	CHF	€		CHF	€
Zermatt - Gornergrat	43.00	43.00		86.00	86.00
Zermatt - Rotenboden	38.00	38.00		76.00	76.00
Zermatt - Riffelberg	32.00	32.00		64.00	64.00
Zermatt - Riffelalp	20.00	20.00		40.00	40.00
Riffelalp - Rotenboden	22.00	22.00		44.00	44.00
Riffelberg - Rotenboden	10.00	10.00		20.00	20.00

We had the Swiss travel pass, we only paid half of the price.

For more info and updates in regard to the train tickets, check out this site:

http://www.gornergratbahn.ch/en/timetable_tickets/prices/Pages/default.aspx

Between the Gornergrat railway station (3,090m) and the Summit is Kulm Hotel (3,120m)

Kulm Hotel at Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

The ride of the Gornegrat bahn up the mountain was a wonderful trip offering breathtaking views and magnificent in every direction.

Fascinating views of the iconic Matterhorn and other Alps Summit throughout the travel to the top.  The mountains were covered with beautiful snow

The views of the Matterhorn and the other Alps were picturesque.  We could not capture though a perfect photo of the Matterhorn,  a bit cloudy.  We went up very late, around 5pm.

The big kids had enjoyed the snow

 

The elevation was very high 3089m or 10132ft above sea level.  We had to move slowly.  Some areas,  there were melted snow/glacier.

Check out 

The Bernhard von Aosta chapel on the Gornegrat which is one of Zermatt's most visited sanctuary.  Visitors stop to light a candle.

Capricorn at the top

 

Sheep on the way down to Zermatt.

We had compiled all the photos taken at Gornergrat to a video

Gornegrat Bahn, Zermatt, Switzerland

view from Gornegrat bahn, Zermatt, Switzerland

view from Gornegrat Bahn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

view from Gornegrat Bahn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

view of Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Amazing views of the Matterhorn and other Alps summit on the way up by railway train.

view of Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

view of Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Swiss Alps at Zermatt, Switzerland

Swiss Alps Views at Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Swiss Alps, Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Glaciers at Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Bernhard von Aosta chapel, Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

The Bernhard von Aosta chapel on the Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland;  is one of Zermatt's most visited sanctuary.  Visitors stop to light a candle.

Kulm Hotel, Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Kulm Hotel at Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland  3,120m above sea level

Kulm Hotel, Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Kulm Hotel and the chapel, Bernhard Von Aosta, Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Kulm Hotel and the chapel, Bernhard Von Aosta at Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Capricorn at Gornegrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

Capricorn at Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland

 Slippery due to melted snow

Time to go down. It was the last trip for that day.

Big kids were tired

Gornergrat railway train ride was really an awesome experience.  40 minutes each way, both offers fantastic views in every direction.

View of Sheep on our way down

Arrived Zermatt

continue to Zermatt, Switzerland

continued from Travel from Lucerne to Zermatt by train

Europe tour June 2013