Info point 10

Zermatt has many traditions and customs that have been carried on for generations. Various festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate and promote the culture. The Folklore Festival takes place in the middle of the summer season. Associations from all over Switzerland showcase their traditions with music, regional dress, dancing and colourful costumes. The procession takes you through the mountain village on Saturday afternoon and spreads nostalgic charm. Switzerland’s National Day, 1 August, is also a big celebration. There’s a street party, music and speeches. The celebration in Zermatt is also known for its alphorn players. It is an old tradition in the Swiss Alps that dates back to the Middle Ages and is often carried on today. The day ends with ceremonial bellringing. Towards the end of summer, the shepherds return from the summer pastures on the alp. The animals (whether sheep, goats or cows) decorated with flowers and large bells can be heard from afar as they return to the valley.  

If you’ve visited Zermatt, you’ve probably noticed the old part of the village, known as the “Hinterdorf” – if not, you should definitely make up for it. The barns and storehouses, some up to 500 years old, breathe history and show how the mountain farmers of Zermatt used to live. The barn was used to store hay. Food items such as dried meat were stored in the storehouse. All buildings are actually made of larch wood – the tree that characterises the surroundings of Zermatt. The wood was particularly suitable as it is very resistant to pests. Almost all stilts feature “mouse plates” – these were installed to prevent rats and mice from entering. Horizontal stone slabs made of slate and granite were fixed above the vertical posts. Their surfaces were so smooth that mice and rats could no longer cling to their undersides. An evening stroll through the old village is always worthwhile.