Matterhorn Dreaming

Located in the canton of Valais at an altitude of 1616 metres, surrounded by 4000-metre mountain peaks and dominated by the imposing pyramidal mass of the Matterhorn, the town of Zermatt has become a popular alpine skiing destination while maintaining a strong sense of tradition. It stands out in particular for its cobbled streets and more than 30 old buildings, bars and chalets constructed from larch wood between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Strolling through the narrow streets of this characteristic alpine village is like stepping back in time, an impression further accentuated by the fact that Zermatt is closed to motor vehicles and can only be reached by train. Visitors have to leave their cars 5 km away in the village of Täsch as the only vehicles that are allowed to circulate in the town are horse-drawn or electric (the first electric bus was used in Zermatt in 1947).
This alpine paradise, where visitors can admire the daily spectacle of the Matterhorn in the constantly changing conditions of light, is home to the 22 SUMMITS Boutique Hotel, the perfect retreat for a pleasant and relaxing holiday, whether for enjoying the magic of winter or for exploring the summer landscape in flower.
The exclusive four-star hotel was opened in December 2018 by Norbert and Carmen Julen, an experienced husband-and-wife team of hospitality professionals who already ran the Casa Vanessa aparthotel and the Hennu Stall après-ski bar.
The owners themselves personally looked after the interior design of the lobby, the lounge bar and the spa zone with the aim of recreating the relaxed and intimate atmosphere of the domestic environment. «We want our guests to feel they are members of the family, as if 22 Summits was their second home,» explained Norbert.
The interiors maintain the intimate, welcoming mood of an alpine chalet thanks to the taupe-coloured walls, partly clad with high-quality raw-look timber with a natural texture and knots, the use of leather for the sofas and chairs and the choice of porcelain floors reproducing the effect of local rough stone.
The mixture of colours and textures conveys a deep sense of warmth and encourages guests to stop and chat in the seating areas in the lobby and to browse through the library where they can find a wealth of fascinating information and news about Zermatt and its surroundings.
The concept is that of a large family home, where the communal areas serve as spaces for living and socialisation. In the lobby and lounge bar, guests can enjoy drinks made from seasonal local products and at the same time organise excursions with advice from the staff, who are always keen to recommend lesser-known routes and «secret» places offering a new and unusual perspective of Zermatt.
Along with the lobby, the Lounge Bar and the 22 bedrooms and suites, the hotel also has a large two-floor wellness centre. While admiring the splendid views of the Matterhorn, guests can recharge their batteries in the Finnish sauna and Vitarium, enjoy the scent and restorative power of herbs in the alpine hay bath and gaze up at the magnificent starry sky from the outdoor whirlpool tub. To give a contemporary, sophisticated touch to the warm alpine chalet atmosphere, Norbert and Carmen Julen chose Montpellier collection tiles from Ceramica Fioranese in the colours Moka, Talco and Cenere for the floors of the lobby, the lounge bar, the spa and the guest bathrooms. This charming collection faithfully reproduces the timeworn look of old reclaimed stone with all its imperfections and irregularities, ideal for use in combination with warm, natural materials like wood and leather.
The architectural project, created by the practice Arnold, Perren & Zurniwen GmbH, offers a modern-day interpretation of the Walser house typology, built entirely from wood and resting on a stone base (or in this case grey plaster) with a wooden loggia running around the entire circumference of the building.