Zermatt: Day 2 … Hinterdorf

Old Zermatt — aka Hinterdorf [rear village] — made for a short but delightful stroll … from where it branches off Bahnhofstrasse down to Inderbinen Fountain … honoring Ulrich Inderbinen, a local mountain guide who climbed the Matterhorn 371 times … the last time when he was 90 years old.

One street long, Old Town consists of 30 or so buildings constructed in the traditional style of the original Valais mountain farmers. The narrow street is lined on either side with barns, stores, stables and old houses that date back to the period between the 16th and 18th centuries. The dark timber buildings, some of which stand on stone stilts to keep mice out, are described as follows:

“ … made of larch, the tree that dominates Zermatt’s surroundings. Rich in resin, the timber is particularly resistant to pests. The houses are roofed with heavy slabs of rock, which compress the timber supporting it and make the construction more robust still. Sunshine and weather darken the wood, and over the course of many years it turns black. As a result, the building becomes much more effective at absorbing and storing heat.”

The street is easy to overlook. In fact, we encountered only 4 or 5 couples wandering down Hinterdorfstrasse while we were there. So glad the clerk at the visitor center encouraged us to visit the street … and doubly glad the weather cooperated.Les mer