The town of Zermatt has a heritage that extends back generations. Historical sources from the 15th and 16th centuries refer to Zermatt by a number of different names, including “zer mat”, “zer Mat” or “zur Matt.” (“Zermatt” would become the official name for the community in the 1800s.) The name itself is actually a Germanic translation for the Italian phrase “Prato Borni” meaning “meadow among springs.” For centuries, Zermatt thrived as an isolated agricultural settlement within the heart of the Alps. Its population was originally governed by the Bishop of Sion, although the relationship between the two groups was often tense. Much of this animosity had actually spawned from the church’s decision to split the community into four distinctive neighborhoods, which diluted the ability of the locals to care for themselves. The area’s leading families subsequently led a prolonged campaign to achieve independence from the bishopric, struggling for years to obtain their freedom. Finally, in 1540, several prominent civil leaders—known locally as “burghers”—managed to acquire enough land to form their own municipality. The Bishop of Sion subsequently lost control over the land by 1618. In its wake, the local inhabitants had created three separate villages that nonetheless retained the same collective identity. Despite their relative autonomy, the communities closely coordinated with each other on many different political matters. In fact, the three towns operated a farming guild and even acknowledged a common set of local laws. Nevertheless, the settlements finally merged into one single entity in 1791, which would become the nucleus of contemporary Zermatt.

No sooner had the new town formed when the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte absorbed all of Switzerland into the French Empire. While the residents were essentially subjects of France, their exposure to the French Revolution led to the liberalization of the town’s government. A modern system of civil administration then gradually expanded throughout Zermatt, even after the Swiss regained their independence in 1814. The new government gave birth to such political bodies like the Zermatt Municipal Community and the Zermatt Citizens’ Community. The village of Zermatt grew in many other ways in the years following the Napoleonic Wars as well, specifically its transformation into a prominent resort community. The change happened in the 1860s, when British mountaineers arrived in the area during their explorations of the local countryside. They quickly spread word about Zermatt’s enchanting tranquility, causing many more travelers to visit the locale. Perhaps the single greatest moment that captured the imaginations of Europe’s tourists was Edward Whymper’s successful, yet tragic ascent up a towering local mountain called the “Matterhorn” in 1865. Many people subsequently flocked into downtown Zermatt upon hearing of Whymper’s tale, inspiring its permanent population to reorient the town’s economy toward tourism. Dozens of beautiful hotels and inns opened downtown, with the greatest being the Grand Hotel Zermatterof. Zermatt has since maintained its prestigious status as a renowned destination for outdoor adventurers, specifically those who enjoy hiking, skiing, and sightseeing. In fact, thousands of people arrive from around the world to bask in its proximity to verdant forests and gorgeous mountaintops.

Walt Disney, the famed storyteller and fairytale aficionado himself, stayed at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof over the course of several summers. Enchanted by the Matterhorn, Walt began production on the film “The Third Man on the Mountain” in 1958. The movie was shot in Zermatt over the course of three months and was inspired by mountaineers like Edward Whymper and Lucy Walker. Though the film was not a rousing success, Walt was pleased with the final product and even opened an attraction in Disneyland inspired by the film and his own adventures in Zermatt. The Matterhorn Bobsled ride started running on June 14, 1959 and has remained one of the top attractions in the park ever since.