Zermatt Old Village (Hinterdorf)
Hinterdorf, Zermatt
A mountain village with no fuel-powered vehicles, preserving 16th to 18th-century larch wooden houses and stone-slab-roofed granaries. Together with Bahnhofstrasse and the mountaineers' cemetery, it forms a walking route through town.
Zermatt bans all fuel-powered vehicles, so only electric carts and horse-drawn carriages operate. From outside, you need to transfer at Täsch to the shuttle train, which takes 12 minutes to reach town. The old village of Hinterdorf lies north of the main street, Bahnhofstrasse. Along Hinterdorfstrasse are more than 30 larch wooden houses weathered to a dark brown, along with the granaries known as 'Stadel.' These are raised on stone pillars and round stone slabs to keep rats out, and they are typical of traditional architecture in the canton of Valais. A suggested walking route runs from the train station to Bahnhofstrasse (shops and restaurants), then to the Hinterdorf old village, then to the Church of St. Mauritius and the mountaineers' cemetery, where many climbers who died on the Matterhorn are buried. From there, follow the Gilbert Bridge beside the church for a view of the Matterhorn, and finish at the Matterhorn Museum, Zermatlantis (admission about CHF 12). The whole route takes 1 to 2 hours. Note that most buildings in the old village are private homes, so please do not enter courtyards. Dining in town is relatively expensive, and the Coop and Migros supermarkets are good for stocking up.
Opening hours
Open all day (outdoor district)
Nearby sights
- Bahnhofstrasse Zermatt
- Glacier Express
- Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis
- St. Mauritius Church & Mountaineers' Cemetery
- Gorner Gorge
- Sunnegga / Leisee
- Findeln
- Zmutt