Matterhorn Museum

Zermatlantis

The story of the Matterhorn and village life below it.

The Matterhorn Museum, known as Zermatlantis, offers a fascinating dive into Zermatt’s past before it became a world-famous resort. Set beneath a glass dome in the village center, the museum recreates an entire 19th-century street with original buildings, barns, and a chapel, showing how locals lived in the shadow of the mountain. The highlight is the section dedicated to the dramatic first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, featuring authentic artifacts – including the broken rope from the fatal descent. Multimedia exhibits and archival footage bring to life how this iconic peak transformed the destiny of a once-remote alpine village.

Transport

How to Get There

Ways to get to the attraction

On foot from Zermatt center 37-55 min.

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Attraction

Description

Detailed information about the attraction

What is this place

Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis is an underground museum beneath Zermatt’s Kirchplatz, telling the story of the village and the Matterhorn. It is staged as a “sunken” 19th-century mountain village with original-style interiors and multimedia rooms.

Key features

Subterranean setting under Kirchplatz by St. Mauritius Church – a compact solution for the village centre.
Opened in 2006; concept by Steiner Sarnen, designed as an “archaeological excavation”.
A recreated village of 14 houses – from a mountain guide’s hut and parish house to the Monte Rosa hotel desk – immerses visitors in 19th-century life.
Signature artefact – the broken rope from the 14 Jul 1865 first ascent, witness to the tragic descent.
Enhanced by the “Matterhorn Show” and route visualisations; includes a summit stone carried by astronaut Claude Nicollier in 1993.

What to see

Walk-through interiors: guide’s house, church and parish, Monte Rosa reception.
The glass case with the 1865 broken rope and climbers’ memorabilia.
Multimedia hall with the Matterhorn show and classic ascent lines.

History

In the mid-2000s, a new underground museum took shape beneath the market square and opened in 2006 by Steiner Sarnen. The “sunken village” concept with a ring gallery and an “excavation” storyline solved space constraints and defined the museum’s identity.

The core narrative covers the 1865 first ascent and Zermatt’s shift from farming village to global resort; later highlights include the STS-61 (1993) summit stone. Zermatlantis was nominated for EMYA-2008 and remains one of the area’s most visited museums.

Practical information

Location: Kirchplatz, 3920 Zermatt – under the glass dome beside the parish church.

Getting there: ~7–10 min on foot from Zermatt station following signs to Kirchplatz; landmark – St. Mauritius Church.

Access: Step-free, wheelchair-accessible; ticket desk at street level, main displays underground.

Visiting hours: Seasonal: generally daily 15:00–18:00; June–September 14:00–18:00; late-Nov to mid-Dec often Fri–Sun 15:00–18:00. Check current dates.

Visit duration: 60–90 min.

Best time: Late afternoon; a good bad-weather option.

Notes: Tickets from CHF 12; concessions available (children, students, groups, Swiss Museum Pass). Expect queues at peak times.

Tours