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The New Cableway Connecting Zermatt and Cervinia. From July 1, 2023, the soul-stirring beauty of the Alpine resorts of Zermatt and Cervinia will gain a new dimension. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, the latest feat in alpine transport, ushers in an era of unfettered, year-round connectivity between the storied Swiss resort of Zermatt and its Italian counterpart, Breuil-Cervinia. This grand venture ushers in a new high, literally and metaphorically, setting a record for the loftiest cableway border crossing in the Alps.
Defying altitudes and bridging borders, the cableway will seamlessly ferry passengers from the dizzying heights of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise mountain station perched at 3,883 meters, to the Testa Grigia valley station nestled at 3,480 meters. This groundbreaking journey charts a path across the time-sculpted Theodul glacier, a thrilling four-minute ride that eclipses conventional mountaineering.
Redefining Mountain Travel with Matterhorn Glacier Ride II
This state-of-the-art cableway is an engineering marvel. With a capacity to transport up to 1,300 awestruck passengers per hour, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II promises to redefine the alpine travel experience. The fast paced journey spans 1.6 km and leverages advanced 3S cableway technology for a comfortable, wind-resistant ride. Add to that a max speed of 7.5 meters per second, and you’ve got an adrenaline-fueled alternative to traditional skiing and snowboarding.
MATTERHORN GLACIER RIDE II, copyright of Zermatt Bergbahnen
But the real showstopper? The cableway’s 10 Crystal Ride cabins with 28 seats each. These mobile observatories, suspended in the Alpine heavens, feature a transparent floor offering an immersive, bird’s-eye view of the glaciated landscapes below.
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Scenic trip around the Matterhorn, from Zermatt to Breuil Cervinia
From the quaint charm of Zermatt, a village that’s held the Matterhorn in its constant gaze for centuries, to the undulating meadows of Furi mountain station at 1,867 meters, every point of this journey is a postcard brought to life. From there, passengers head towards Schwarzsee via the Matterhorn Express, as the majestic Matterhorn poses against the clear alpine sky.
At Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the world morphs into a stunning spectacle of 38 peaks reaching past 4,000 meters and 14 glistening glaciers. As passengers cross the border at Testa Grigia, Italy beckons, revealing panoramic views of the glacier.
MATTERHORN GLACIER RIDE I, copyright of Zermatt Bergbahnen
VALLEY STATION MATTERHORN GLACIER RIDE II, Copyright © 2022 Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
As the journey continues, passengers descend to the Cime Bianche Leghi station, where a landscape of lakes spreads out under the shadow of the ice and rock. Finally, the cableway reaches its terminus at the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia, the sister city to Zermatt, under the shadow of the Matterhorn’s Italian face, the Gran Becca.
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This ambitious venture isn’t merely about conquering altitudes or pushing the limits of engineering. It’s a symphony that plays to the rhythm of the mountains, a tribute to the Alpine spirit that is now accessible to all – on foot, on skis, and high above in the new Matterhorn Glacier Ride II. ◼
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© This article was first published online in July 2023 – World Travel Magazine.