Natural Wonder · Zermatt, Switzerland
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy.
Photo: Photo: chil, on Camptocamp.org Derivative work:Zacharie Grossen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Zermatt, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Elevation | Elevation: 4477.54 m |
| Coordinates | 45.9764° N, 7.6586° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Matterhorn is known for
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy.
About Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. Sometimes referred to as the "Mountain of Mountains" (German: Berg der Berge), the Matterhorn has become an indelible emblem of Switzerland and of the Alps as a whole.
History
Aegidius Tschudi, one of the earliest Alpine topographers and historians, was the first to mention the region around the Matterhorn in his work, De Prisca ac Vera Alpina Raethi, published in Basel in 1538. He approached the Matterhorn as a student when in his Alpine travels he reached the summit of the Theodul Pass, but he does not seem to have paid any particular attention to the mountain itself. The Matterhorn remained unstudied for more than two centuries, until a geologist from Geneva, Horace Benedict de Saussure, travelled to the mountain, which filled him with admiration.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Zermatt |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Aosta Airport (AOT) |
| Distance from the airport | 21.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Turin Airport (TRN) · Caselle Torinese (TO), Italy · 53.6 miles away
- Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) · Ferno (VA), Italy · 56.8 miles away
- Geneva International Airport (GVA) · Geneva, Switzerland · 76.4 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Switzerland
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is Matterhorn?
The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy.
Where is Matterhorn located?
Matterhorn is in Zermatt, Switzerland. Its coordinates are 45.9764° N, 7.6586° E.
How do I get to Matterhorn?
The nearest town is Zermatt, and the nearest airport is Aosta Airport (AOT), about 21.7 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Matterhorn?
Aegidius Tschudi, one of the earliest Alpine topographers and historians, was the first to mention the region around the Matterhorn in his work, De Prisca ac Vera Alpina Raethi, published in Basel in 1538. He approached the Matterhorn as a student when in his Alpine travels he reached the summit of the Theodul Pass, but he does not seem to have paid any particular attention to the mountain itself.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1374 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.