For the next leg of our trip through Switzerland, we enjoyed a wonderfully relaxed start in Montreux before bidding au revoir to Lac Léman and making our way into the beautiful Canton of Valais.
Our first stop was Martigny, where we discovered the story of Saint Bernard, the man behind the famous dogs that bear his name. Better yet, we were lucky enough to spot a few magnificent Saint Bernards ourselves!
While in Martigny, we also stepped back nearly 2,000 years as we explored the Roman amphitheatre and learned the tragic story of the Theban Legion, whose soldiers were martyred nearby for refusing to renounce their Christian faith.
Continuing up the Rhône Valley, surrounded by vineyards and orchards, we arrived in the Valais capital of Sion. Overlooking the town, Château de Tourbillon and the Basilica of Valère watched over us as we wandered through the historic streets, passing Saint Théodule Church before enjoying some free time for lunch and exploring the bustling weekday market.
In Sion, we took a vigorous hike to a monastery followed by a leisurely lunch.
Then it was time to say au revoir to French-speaking Switzerland as we climbed higher into the Alps towards Täsch. From there, we boarded the shuttle train for the final stretch into the beautiful, car-free village of Zermatt. 🚆🏔️
Zermatt is a picture-perfect alpine village where charming, car-free streets meet some of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountain scenery. With the Matterhorn towering overhead, it’s the perfect home base for exploring the Alps, whether you’re wandering the village, riding the cable cars into the mountains, or simply soaking up the views.
We stayed at Hotel Alex, which was very convenient to the train station. We enjoyed our stay there and loved the cool details like the goat chairs at the bar.
One quaint, memorable thing in Zermatt is that in the summer, there is a goat parade every day! School children do this during a summer camp.
Our excursion involved multiple lift rides to panoramic viewpoints on Klein Matterhorn, affording stunning vistas of Glacier Paradise. We enjoyed an intermittent view of the Matterhorn, as clouds drifted in and out throughout the day. Lunch at Restaurant Furri, strategically located halfway down the mountain, was truly exceptional.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a must visit. The world’s highest glacier palace, you travel through ice tunnels through the glacier, into a crevasse or to the ice slide. Decorated with beautiful works of icy art, we thoroughly enjoyed this part of our trip and are so glad we made time for it.
After checking into the hotel and enjoying a little time to relax, we came together for a celebratory drink, raising a glass to another fantastic day and the adventures still to come.
We rounded off the evening with a wonderful shared dinner at Hotel Derby, enjoying great food and even better company.
I simply cannot share enough pictures of Zermatt here. To see the beauty of this place, you’ll have to check out our Facebook album! (While you’re there, give us a follow!)
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