Since July 1, 2023, the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing provides a continuous, year-round connection between Breuil-Cervinia in Italy and Zermatt in Switzerland. The “Matterhorn Glacier Ride II” is the final piece of the puzzle that will enable the highest continuous crossing of the Alps by cable car. The opening of the last cable car section this summer provides a seamless connection between the two destinations in Italy and Switzerland that has been sought for more than 80 years.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride II

The new modern S3 cable car Matterhorn Glacier Ride II connects the summit of Piccolo Cervino (“Little Matterhorn”) with Plateau Rosa, allowing everyone to move between Cervinia and Zermatt, the Aosta Valley and the Canton of Valais and vice versa. Until now, this was an option only for skiers.

The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II cable car section has a station in Testa Grigia, Italy, at 11,345 feet. Visitors are able to cross the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, the highest cross-border pass in the Alps, from there. Another station on the Piccolo Cervino (“Little Matterhorn”) in Switzerland at 12,739 feet above sea level continues the Matterhorn Glacier Ride I, which opened in fall 2018 and replaced the previous Piccolo Cervino cable car. With the start of operation of the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, the seamless integration of the two destinations, which has been sought for more than 80 years, is achieved.

Plateau Rosa: More than skiing

The cable car takes both skiers and visitors who just want to enjoy the high mountains, the clear sky, the mountain sun and the fresh breeze directly to the Plateau Rosa. There you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the 13,123 feet peaks of the Alps: the most prominent peak for summiteers to see is the Matterhorn, but profiles of Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso, the Monte Rosa massif and the Swiss Alpine peaks in Valais are also clearly visible. Towards Italy, the view falls on the unmistakable silhouette of Monviso in Piedmont.

In the Museum of Work, located on the Plateau Rosa, visitors can physically visualize the cardinal points, names and altitude of all the 13,000-feet peaks of the area, as well as the most famous peaks, in a signage made of solid bronze. The exhibition of work tools and photographs tells of the incredible efforts of the Valdostan ancestors during the construction of the ski lifts and cable cars of the Plateau Rosà as well as the Furggen.

New possibilities: Glacier Grotto on the Little Matterhorn

Thanks to the new cable car section, the ice cave of the Piccolo Cervino (“Little Matterhorn”) with its depth of 50 feet and its 164-feet tunnel dug into the ice will now also be more easily accessible from Breuil-Cervinia. The lighting and soft music inside the ice cave create a very special atmosphere. In summer, the climb with a mountain guide from Plateau Rosa takes about an hour and a half. With skis one crossed the glacier so far with the lifts open for summer skiing.

Photos: (c)Zermatt Bergbahnen

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The wait is over. After an extensive restoration of the historic Grand Hotel Cristallo in Cervinia, the new 5-Star Valtur Cervinia Cristallo Ski Resort opened its doors on December 1st. The impressive redevelopment promises to preserve the allure of the past, while projecting the resort into a new aesthetic and experiential dimension.

Located in Cielo Alto at about 6.500 feet above sea level, the resort’s main building is flanked by two dépendances, called Cristallino 1 and 2, which are internally connected and rated 4 stars.

Location, location, location

It is about 2.600 feet from the center of Cervinia and from the departure of the cable car that provides access to the large international “Matterhorn Ski Paradise”. The ski area has about 217 miles of slopes and is connected by ski lifts, stretching from Valtournenche to Zermatt.

The resort consists of different independent and at the same time interconnected buildings: the central 5-star Cristallo, and two annex buildings next to it, called Cristallino 1 and 2, of 4-star category. The rooms are a total of 234, located in the three buildings.

5-Stars or 4-Stars at Valtur Cervinia Cristallo

The 96 rooms in the main building (5-star category) are divided into: Comfort, Deluxe, Junior Suite and Junior Suite Fit Room, Suite. All rooms have bathrooms with shower, IPTV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, heating, minibar, electronic safe, tea/coffee machine, superior courtesy set, evening turndown service. Also, rooms for people with mobility disabilities are available.

The other 138 rooms are distributed between Cristallino 1 and 2, with different options also suitable for families. Here there are the categories Classic, Dreamy, Comfort, Family, Grand Family, Junior Suite Cristallino (with “Fit Room” option), Cristallino Suite, Cervino Suite and Cervino Master Suite. All rooms have bathroom with shower, IPTV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, courtesy set, heating, minibar, safe, tea/coffee machine.

Let the fun begin

In addition, there is no shortage on amenities: two restaurants, a private dining room, a bistro, two bars, a lobby area, the two highest paddle courts in Europe, a multi-purpose ice skating rink, hockey and curling, a gym, two swimming pools, three dj set stations, theater, Honey Spa, Ski Room by Rossignol with the possibility of renting ski equipment, Luxury Vintage Corner, a refined multi-brand boutique and a state-of-the-art miniclub, the Giorgio Rocca Ski School Cervinia, a treadmill to accompany guests’ skis on the slopes, gaming room, the Cervino Terrace and the Valtur Smart Space for remote working activities. The hotel also operates a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and the ski lifts from 8:45 am until 4:45 pm. Meaning, guests can enjoy the ski area for the whole day without having to walk.

Dedicated to all 5-star guests are the exclusive ValturExecutive Lounge, a reserved check-in area, a VIP Ski-Room, in addition to concierge and lifestyle assistant services, mattress and pillow menu. Also present in the structure are nutritional biologist, resident performer, personal trainer or running coach and the possibility of organizing private transfers.

As if a full day of skiing is not enough, you will have a wide choice of sports activities, tournaments, courses and wellness activities, exclusive DJ sets, shows, performances and real happenings.

Designed with warm wood and contrasting slate, the hotel combines contemporary décor with timeless furnishings to provide a truly luxurious stay.

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