22.05.2012
Museums in Zermatt and surroundings
Folklore museum in Grächen
Opening hours: Mid-June to mid-October, Wednesdays from 16:00 to 18:00
Groups and associations on request - contact Grächen tourist office
The folklore museum is located in the old Town Hall. A special section is dedicated to pictures, books, stories and impressions of the famous humanist scholar Thomas Platter.
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Folklore museum in St. Niklaus
Opening hours: Tuesday/Friday 18:00-20:00
Groups and associations on request - contact St. Niklaus tourist office
The folklore museum was created by the Pro Nikolai foundation and gives excellent insight into handicrafts, traditional agriculture and lifestyle of the locals across the centuries.
Mountain guide museum in St. Niklaus
Opening hours: Tuesday/Friday 18:00-20:00
Groups and associations on request - contact St. Niklaus tourist office
Discover 150 years of mountain guide traditions in St.Niklaus. The mountaineers of the area are widely known for their pioneering exploits. The museum is located at Meier Tower at the heart of St.Niklaus.
Minerals exhibition in St. Niklaus
Opening hours: Tuesday/Friday 18:00-20:00
Groups and associations on request - contact St. Niklaus tourist office
Discover the great variety of minerals that can be found in Nikolai Valley, such as garnet, vesuvianite, diopside, epidote and quarz as well as a range of lesser known varieties. The area around Zermatt is an internationally renowned resort for minerals and the museum is a great place to have a look at what nature has to offer in this part of the world.
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Alpine Museum in Zermatt
| Opening hours: | *June/September/October: daily 10:00-12:00 & 16:00-18:00 |
| *July/August: daily 10:00-12:00 & 15:00-18:00 | |
| *November-April: 16:30 - 18:30; closed on Saturdays |
The mountaineering history of Zermatt starts with the climb of the 3,883m Small Matterhorn by the Genève-based scholar H.B. de Saussure on 13 August 1792. Between 1813 and 1865 all the 4,000 meter mountains in the region were conquered, topped by the climb up to Matterhorn on 14 July 1865. There was, however, also tragedy, as four of the seven members of Edward Whymper’s team fell to death when descending the mountain. Thanks to the Seiler family (hotel owners in the area), a lot of photos, equipment and other exhibits from the “golden age of mountaineering” can be admired still today.
The Alpine Museum also features a lot of information about the flora and fauna of the area, such as butterflies. Also admire two models of Matterhorn (1:5000) and Mattertal Valley (1:25000).
There is also a collection of minerals for those who are into geology and several exhibits such as a stone axe from the Neolithic area which was found on Theodul pass, or golden coins from Valtourmenche which testify to the significance of the pass before Napoleon build the Simplon pass.
On the top floor you will find exhibits and stories about local politics, the early days of skiing etc, as well as a model of an old traditional kitchen, bedroom and an antique dairy.
* please check opening hours before your visit - tel. +41 (0)27 967 41 00
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Saaser Museum in Saas See
In the South of the village near the church you will find Saas Museum in the old parish center which dates back to 1732. In 1855 another floor was added to the building. This is a traditional home typical for the area.
Saaser Museum was officially opened to the public on 3 December 1983. Thanks to its eclectic offer the museum is one of the region’s most visited. Its four floors are dedicated to a variety of topics such as: traditional housing at the turn of the century, folklore exhibits, traditional dress, early days of tourism, minerals, glaciers, religious art, agriculture, old pictures of the area etc.
saas-fee.ch
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