What to do and see in Zermatt, Swiss Alps: The Best Sacred & Religious Sites

This peaceful place of worship stands on a mound facing the Matterhorn at an altitude of 2,590 m. The view from the "Bruder Klaus" chapel at Riffelberg of the Matterhorn and the valley below is unforgettable. The chapel's profile echoes that of the Weisshorn across the valley.

The “Maria zum Schnee” chapel near the Schwarzsee gondola station is a gem. It stands on the shore of the Schwarzsee (2,552 m), whose clear dark waters beautifully reflect the chapel when the air is still. A popular place of pilgrimage to this day Walkers and locals often call in to the small chapel for a moment of peace and to light a candle. The celebrations on the patron saint’s feast day on 5 August are highly popular. •If chapel is closed: key is available from the Restaurant Schwarzsee (tel. +41 27 967 2263) •Mountaineers who have successfully climbed the Matterhorn often stop at the chapel to give thanks •View of the Hornligrat ridge on the Matterhorn. In July and August, climbers on the Matterhorn can be seen with binoculars •Hornli hut visible •Chapel closed in winter

Winkelmatten chapel, “Zur Heiligen Familie”, is a gem, located at the end of the village in the Winkelmatten quarter. Many couples choose this chapel for their marriage. Built in 1607, the chapel is a smaller-scale copy of the old village church and probably late reparation by the people of Zermatt to the residents of Winkelmatten. The story goes that the hamlet of Winkelmatten was almost given the honour of hosting the parish church. But things worked out differently: the crafty people of Zermatt are said to have moved the tools that were already standing on the construction site into the village during the night and, the next day, told the nonplussed inhabitants of Winkelmatten that this must be a supernatural sign and an expression of divine will. •Photo subject: Winkelmatten chapel with Matterhorn •Popular chapel for weddings and baptisms •Accessible by local bus (Winkelmatten red line) •Children’s playground nearby

Blatten chapel stands on a small rise, on the “Blatten" – a rock ledge in the eponymous hamlet below Furi, at an altitude of 1,740 m. This chapel is one of the best known in Zermatt, and is clearly visible from the gondolas of the Matterhorn Express. The baroque chapel with recessed choir was built in 1640. The entrance was originally located on the north side, where its outlines are still clearly visible. It was moved to the east side in 1704 and protected with a porch, a massive pillared arcade. When the French overran the village in 1798, the inhabitants of Blatten and Zum See are said to have hidden their modest weapons in the attic of this porch. The interior and exterior of the church were renovated in 1983, and the red paintwork was applied. Until the 20th century, the faithful continued to make pilgrimages to Blatten in two processions. The so-called “Long Procession”, with vespers not far from the chapel, led via Moos back to the village church. •Candles for lighting •Beside the Furi–Zermatt footpath •Beside the Furi–Zermatt ski piste

The “Bernhard von Aosta” chapel on the Gornergrat is one of Zermatt’s most visited places of worship. Visitors from all over the world stop to light a candle and enjoy the soothing tranquillity of this mountain sanctuary. After the Kulmhotel Gornergrat opened at the end of the 19th century, Sunday mass was read in the hotel’s dining room during the summer. The bishop expressed the wish for a chapel, and in 1950 construction took place. The chapel is owned by the municipality, and stands at an altitude of nearly 3,100 m. •Memorial candles: several thousand are lit every year

“Heilige Katharina von Alexandrien”. Z’mutt, Zmutt and Mutt are all names for this huddled hamlet, which is more than 500 years old. At its heart stands this small white chapel, well worth a visit on the leisurely walk from Zermatt to Zmutt. The hamlet of Zmutt lies a short hour’s walk south-west of Zermatt at an altitude of 1,936 m.