In the village of Zermatt, in the Valais canton, southern Switzerland

 "The mountains are calling and I must go." -- John Muir

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(in southern Switzerland) The village of Zermatt, in the Valais canton, is found at the head of the Mattervisp Valley and at the foot of the Matterhorn mountain (14,692 feet [4,478 meters]), some 23 miles (~37 km) southeast of the town of Sion -- capital of the canton of Valais, and of the district of Sion. (Its name is derived from its position Zur Matte [“in the Alpine meadow”]. A year-round resort surrounded by mountains and glaciers, Zermatt offers some of the finest views in Switzerland and is also a popular center for Alpine mountaineering and winter sports. When many people think of Zermatt, they think of one thing: The Matterhorn. As visitors arrive in the village, many give little whoops of joy at the pop-up-book effect of the Matterhorn, the hypnotically beautiful, one-of-a-kind peak that rises like a shark's fin above town. This ultimate Swiss icon looms over Zermatt, first drawing visitors here in the 1860s. The village of Zermatt itself is lovely and car-free, with old-fashioned brown chalets and winding alleys. Skiing in the region often lasts through early summer, but when the weather’s warmer, it’s a great time to hike.

+ Nothing prepares Zermatt's visitors today, for the allure of the Matterhorn. As soon as they arrive at the timber-chalet-filled village, the mighty mountain looms high above them, mesmerizing all with its majestic peak. They gaze at it from a tranquil street-side cafe, hike in its shadow along the tangle of Alpine paths above town with cowbells clinking in the distance, or pause to admire its sheer size from a ski slope. The resort of Zermatt assures snow throughout the winter season, which helps to make it one of the most popular vacation winter resorts in Switzerland. Ever-looming over the village, the mighty Matterhorn is said to be the most photographed mountain on earth. Unique, iconic and indescribably beautiful, from nearly every place within the village, and even more while on the mountain, the Matterhorn projects quite a mighty presence.

+ Since the mid-19th century, Zermatt has starred among Switzerland’s glitziest resorts. British climber Edward Whymper reached the Matterhorn's summit in 1865 and hardy souls have come here ever since to climb: Theodore Roosevelt climbed the Matterhorn in 1881 and a 20-year-old Winston Churchill scaled nearby Monte Rosa (at 4,634 meters) in 1894. Today, skiers cruise along well-kept pistes, spellbound by the scenery, while style-conscious tourists flash designer threads in the town's swish lounge bars. But all remain smitten with the Matterhorn, an unfathomable monolith they can hardly stop admiring.

+ Depicted here is Zermatt and its village church, with the great Matterhorn looming in the shadowy background. (Known as the St Mauritius Church, it stands at the end of the local main street, Built in 1913, it features a beautiful 18th-century altar.)