- Zermatt Bergbahnen
Transcription
- Zermatt Bergbahnen
OF MUSIC AND DANCE. WELCOME TO THE LEGEND TRAIL! Legend sources: • Valais Legends, Josef Guntern, Walter Verlag Zurich • Zermatt Myths and Legends, Karl Lehner • Hiking Guide, Ernesto Perren, Rotten Verlag • BrauchtumSchweiz.ch • The History of the Matterhorn, Beat P. Truffer, Aroleit-Verlag 2015, www.matterhornworld.ch 7,600 m 2 h 45 min 2 h mountain hike 453 m Berghaus Grünsee, Buffet Bar Sunnegga, various restaurants in Findeln June to October kid-friendly Grünsee: Grünsee rests in a trough at 2,300 meters. The forest climbs to this altitude here, which is rare in Switzerland, except in Valais. The water level fluctuates; thus the lakeside vegetation is not particularly pronounced. 3 Grindjisee: Grindjisee lies in a nature preserve at an elevation of 2,334 meters. The lake is fed by melt water. Grindjisee is loved especially for its extraordinary reflected view of the Matterhorn. THE GIANT GARGANTUA. SIGNS AND WONDERS. THE FLYING MONSTER. Enjoy the grandiose view of the Matterhorn and learn an astounding story about its creation. A giant named Gargantua lived many thousands of years ago in Valtournenche. This sunny valley was sheltered from the cold north wind by a high rock wall. Thus, in this valley, nature could flourish undisturbed. This corner of the world was very fertile. Even the milk flowed in brooks, from which lambs drank. The giant was friendly with the people of the valley. But one day he wanted to see what was on the other side of the rock wall. As he stepped foot in Zermatt, the rock wall collapsed. Only the Matterhorn remained, towering above the rubble. Right behind you, at Findel Glacier, the dead used to wander (the Gratzug) through mountain and valley. Rich Josisch Wisi once told this story here: “We were carrying provisions to Fluhalphütte. As we cut into the valley, we heard a drumming, whistling, and murmuring on the other side of the glacier – without a doubt, it was the Gratzug. We were afraid, and we heard the sounds drawing nearer. Suddenly my brother Joseph said: “Those are the poor souls”, and I said, “May God have mercy on them”, and suddenly a silence fell. No wonder; because one says that these suffering souls only show themselves and make themselves heard so that someone will answer with a “God have mercy”. There are signs and wonders that the world no longer understands today. Bit I assure you, as old Hanspierla once told me, that nature has so many secrets that we stupid humans don’t even understand one in a thousand!” See the gold sand on the bottom of this idyllic mountain lake? The “Vuivra”, it is said, is a flying monster that wears a crown on its head, has wings of fire, and has a body like a dragon. The beast feeds on gold sand, which it stirs up from the bottom of the three larger mountain lakes. When the gold sand on the floor of one lake is exhausted, the beast rises from the water, takes to the air, and races in a dreadful flight to the next lake to feed on the gold sand there, which has again collected in the water while it was away. It can happen that the voracious monster, locked beneath the frozen ice, finds the winter too long and sometimes has only a meagre Fassnacht. Then he thuds on the hard ice crust with such force that the surrounding mountains and valleys thunder. THE FLYING MONSTER. 2 Stellisee: Stellisee rests 2,537 meters above sea level. The basin of the lake was hollowed out by Findel Glacier and the lake fills with snowmelt. SIGNS AND WONDERS. Punch this leaflet at each lake using the control punch. Show your fully punched leaflet at the Sunnegga valley station or to Zermatt Tourism and you will receive a small gift. 1 THE GIANT GARGANTUA. Legends tell about fantastic events that are closely associated with a place. These short stories have been passed down orally from generation to generation. Most of the tales have a religious connection or are rooted in tradition. Zermatt, with its original residents, rambling valleys, and living tradition, offers rich stuff for countless myths – some amusing, some eerie, and some tragic. You can discover a few of them as you hike the 5-lake trail. THE LOST BABY. It leads you along mystic lakes through the majestic mountain world of Zermatt. © Jasmin Scherrer LEGEND TRAIL. 1 2 Along the 5 - lake trail 3 4 5 Please punch each lake on the front of this leaflet. 4 5 Recommended route Valley Station Sunnegga – Sunnegga – Blauherd – Stellisee – Grindjisee – Grünsee – Moosjisee – Leisee MATTERHORN ZERMATT BERGBAHNEN Zermatt Bergbahnen AG Postfach 378, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)27 966 01 01, Info: +41 (0)27 966 01 05 [email protected], www.matterhornparadise.ch Zermatt Tourismus Bahnhofplatz 5, 3920 Zermatt Tel.+41 (0)27 966 81 00, Fax +41 (0)27 966 81 01 [email protected], www.zermatt.ch Photos Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Leisee: Michael Portmann Moosjisee: Jasmin Scherrer Moosjisee: Moosjisee was built at an elevation of 2,140 meters. It is a source of hydroelectric power generated by Zermatt Electricity Works (EWZ). The lake is fed with water from Findel Glacier. The turbine is in Zermatt, in the Wiesti district. Swimming in Moosjisee is strictly prohibited. Leisee: Leisee rests below Sunnegga station and is the most popular lake for relaxing and swimming. Fireplaces, seating, and a playground are at lake side. THE LOST BABY. OF MUSIC AND DANCE. Over there, at Aroleid, the legendary eagle rose into the sky. A certain mountain In Zermatt is called “Aroleid”, which means as much as sorrow caused by an Ari (vulture) or grey eagle. This name, it is said, comes from the following tragic event: A mother, who was tending cattle, laid her infant in the grass to fetch a cow that had wandered off. While she was away, a vulture came – “d’s Ari” – and stole her baby. When she returned, she saw a great bird in the air and hanging from it a long band. The distressed woman knew immediately what this meant. She filled mountain and dale with her wailing, but never found her dear baby again. Take a break above the unique hamlet of Findeln, formerly home of the best dancers. The simple lifestyle of our self-supporting ancestors was shaped by the locations of their vastly dispersed pastures and fields, virtually forcing a half-nomadic lifestyle. It was easier, and nearly the only viable option – and an ecologically sensible one – to take the cattle to the pastures rather than to constantly shuffle hay and manure back and forth. The Zermatt folk thus had homes and stables both in the village and in the mountain pastures, as in Findeln. Once the work season in Zermatt was over, they moved on with their cattle and necessities to Findeln, where they spent the entire time from late autumn until Christmas. This was the time of sitting together in the evening, making music, and (strictly forbidden by the priest) dancing. In former times in Zermatt it was said: “Whoever can dance is just a Findler!” It was a hard, frugal, but wonderful time. MATTERHORN ZERMATT BERGBAHNEN