Portfolio - Special Edition Switzerland

42 Special Edition Switzerland Winter Experiences National Resort in Champéry – the former taking its name from its pristine façade and predominantly white interior; the latter a softly hued, inviting spa hotel featuring the HormeSpa, which takes full advantage of the natural elements and sublime alpine location. BREAKING THE ICE The Aletsch area has drawn skiing beginners, family ski groups, and winter hikers, but it’s justifiably most famous for its vast glacier – the longest in the Alps – which is a site of such natural beauty and geological significance that it earned a place on the Unesco World Heritage list (as Jungfrau–Aletsch) in 2001. Covering a total area of 82,400 hectares, and traversing a distance of 23 kilometres from Jungfrau to the Massa Gorge, the glacier – best viewed from the Moosfluh, Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn viewpoints – features a wide diversity of ecosystems. It also contains a wealth of scientific information relating to the formation of mountains and glaciers, ecological and biological processes, and ongoing climate change. Its landscape, which can be fully appreciated on guided walks, has also played an important role in European art and literature. Hikers in the “Aletsch Arena” enjoy a particularly serene alpine walk in this winter wonderland, with 72 kilometres of trails to discover, the best of which leads from Moosfluh to Riederfurka and back to Riederalp. Given its natural attributes, Aletsch is also, not surprisingly, a sought-after location for both wedding ceremonies and pre-wedding photoshoots. The area’s pre-eminent places to stay include Hôtel Waldhaus Bettmeralp, with its oak-dominated design and sublime montane views, and the Chalet-Hôtel Bettmerhof, which provides wellness and culinary facilities as well as offering warm wooden interiors. Finally, for a light-hearted day out, head to Barryland, a quirky Matterhorn destination in the town of Martigny, where you can spend time getting acquainted with the St Bernard dogs that are intimately associated with this region. This museum features a history of the breed, and hourly opportunities to meet and walk the iconic Swiss dogs; there’s also a private walk arranged for groups of 10 or more, and a VIP package that includes a museum visit, a walk with the dogs and a three-course lunch. Aside from the major skiing resorts and cultural centres, visitors to the Matterhorn region can enjoy a range of other activities at disparate locations. For example, rail enthusiasts can ride the “slowest express train in the world,” Glacier Express, which connects Zermatt to the luxury resort town of St Moritz; and Gornergrat Bahn, Europe’s highest open-air cog railway, which affords mesmerising mountain views, as well as the best Matterhorn view from the top called Gornergrat. Based in the capital of the Valais in Sion, oenophiles should also make a beeline for Les Celliers de Sion, which is a paradise for wine lovers complete with open-air and indoor trails that recount the drink’s history.