COMPASS

GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND

Zermatt keeps its alpine air clear by prohibiting gas-powered vehicles in the village .

At an elevation of 5,314 feet above sea level , Zermatt , Switzerland , could be called the Mile-high-plus City . And the plus could be the mountain that towers above it : the Matterhorn .

“ It ’ s the world ’ s most beautiful mountain , and at its foot is Zermatt ,” says Amadé Perrig of Zermatt Tourism . “ We get close to two million guests from all over the world , and there are several reasons they come here .”

Zermatt ’ s mountain The Matterhorn , the iconic peak of the Swiss Alps , soars nearly three miles high ( 14,692 feet , or 4,478 meters ). Majestic in every light , the Matterhorn is one of most photographed mountains in the world .

Autoless and lovin ’ it No cars are allowed in Zermatt , and travelers arrive by narrow gauge railway . Visitors and residents get around on foot , by horse-drawn carriage and with electric cars . “ Zermatt has been free of [ gas-powered ] cars since anyone can remember ,” Perrig says . “ That tradition has helped the old village keep its cosmopolitan charm , clean air and unique atmosphere .”

Pick your boots Zermatt is one of the most popular skiing areas in the Alps , and it ’ s a hiker ’ s paradise in the summer . With more than 260 miles of well-prepared ski trails and more than 70 sport tracks , Zermatt has few equals as a ski destination . And it ’ s suitable for skiers of all abilities . “ Beginners can practice on gentle slopes in real alpine country , not bunny hills , and we also offer all the excitement an advanced skier could want ,” Perrig says . Zermatt ’ s trails are connected with the Cervinia ski area in Italy , so it ’ s possible to ski in Italy and Switzerland on the same day .

Dining and dreaming “ It ’ s no secret that you can eat well around the clock in Zermatt ,” Perrig says , explaining that a high percentage of Zermatt ’ s 100-plus restaurants are considered gourmet . The city also has a broad range of accommodations : 130 hotels and 2,100 apartments , plus generously apportioned vacation homes and comfortable chalets . Ten hotels are located in the ski areas around Zermatt , and one , 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat , is at the highest elevation of any hotel — appropriately 3,100 meters , or 10,170 feet — in the Swiss Alps .

For more information , visit the Zermatt Tourism website , zermatt . ch , or email Perrig at amade . perrig @ zermatt . ch .