New Schluhmatte Cable Car Station on Track for 2023 Opening
Construction on the new Schluhmatte valley station and its associated cable car is entering the next phase, with a planned completion by autumn 2023.
The Matterhorn-Express gondola will remain fully operational throughout the construction period to ensure uninterrupted guest access to the mountain.
A temporary ticket office made from container elements will be erected between May and mid-June 2022 to serve guests during the building phase.
The old cable car, nicknamed the 'alte Lady,' will take its final trip on June 19, 2022, before being dismantled.
Zermatt to Enforce New Police Regulations
A fully revised police regulation, replacing the previous 1998 version, was approved and came into effect in January 2022.
The new rules explicitly prohibit camping on public grounds, with bivouacking only permitted as a high-alpine emergency measure.
Begging and unauthorized street performances for money are now forbidden on public streets and squares.
The regulations also introduce clearer rules against littering, address public disturbances, and detail the approval process for public events.
Zermatt Municipality to Take Over Waste Management Services
Starting October 1, 2022, the municipality of Zermatt will directly manage waste and recycling services, ending its contract with the current provider.
Existing collection points and schedules for both residential and commercial waste will generally remain the same.
The municipality plans to introduce additional separate collections for materials such as plastics and PET bottles to improve recycling efforts.
All current public and private waste containers will be collected and replaced with new ones by September 30, 2022.
Construction of 'd'niww Walka' Schoolhouse Resumes
The construction of the new Walka schoolhouse is entering its second season, with work resuming in April 2022 after a winter pause.
The main goals for 2022 are to complete the structural concrete work for tracts I and II, install the wooden facade, and add the windows and roof.
A tight schedule includes installing a second large crane and drilling for geothermal probes to stay on track.
The project's first phase is scheduled for completion in summer 2023, with the second and final phase set for summer 2024.
Zermatt Honors Longstanding Partnership with Sister City Myoko, Japan
The article reflects on the decades-long friendship between Zermatt and its Japanese sister city, Myoko, a popular mountain resort.
The partnership, formalized in the 1990s, has fostered numerous cultural exchanges, including regular student visits between the two towns.
A tribute is paid to the recently deceased Tsuyoshi Ueki, a key figure who promoted the Alps in Japan and was instrumental in building the relationship.
A highlight of the friendship was Zermatt's 1998 gift of a trained avalanche rescue dog to Japan, which was officially accepted by the Prime Minister.
Work on the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II has resumed, with crews clearing several meters of snow from the high-altitude construction sites.
The project's next phase involves completing concrete work and installing the cableway's support structures and electromechanical systems.
The mountain and valley stations are scheduled for near-completion by autumn 2022, including a new photovoltaic system on the mountain station's facade.
The spectacular cable-pulling operation is planned for winter 2022/23, with the new lift expected to open in spring 2023.
Gornergrat Railway Schedules Night Work for Spring and Autumn
The Gornergrat Bahn (GGB) will conduct safety-related construction work from mid-April to early May and again in autumn 2022.
The work is connected to the renovation of the Gornerhaus and affects the track section between the Getwing bridge and the GGB tunnel.
To minimize disruption, most work will be carried out during nighttime shifts, requiring the overhead power lines to be shut off.
Residents are advised to expect increased noise from construction activities during the specified night work periods.
The Neolithic Axe of Zermatt: A Prehistoric Alpine Treasure
The article details the 1959 discovery of a large, polished Neolithic stone axe at an altitude of 2400 meters near the Theodul Pass.
Scientific analysis revealed the axe was crafted around 4000 BCE from stone quarried at Monte Viso in the Italian Alps, not from Brittany as first thought.
The axe was likely a valuable, high-status prestige object rather than a functional tool, carried by someone crossing the Alps.
It is believed the axe was deliberately left as a ritual offering in a location with a commanding view of the Matterhorn; it is now on display in the Matterhorn Museum.