The Matterhorn

Situated in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy is one of the most famous and distinctive of all Alpine peaks. The Matterhorn is a pyramidal-shaped colossus, standing at a skyline-dominating 4478 metres (14,690 feet). Its four steep faces rise above the nearby glaciers and face the four compass points, north, east, south and west. Although not the highest peak in the Alps its fame is due to its almost impossible shape; an unusual landform with a summit that appears to extend over its north face, making it look like a cobra about to strike.

The formation of the Matterhorn (and the rest of the Alps) began some 50 to 60 million years ago when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, and layers of sedimentary rock that had formed in the seas between them were thrust up above sea level. Experts suggest that the Matterhorn began as a rounded hill, but gained its distinct pyramidal shape as a result of natural erosive forces over the last million years.

The first successful ascent of this iconic peak was on July 14, 1865 by a team led by English illustrator, climber and explorer Edward Whymper. He had previously made several unsuccessful attempts on the summit. The climb was marred by tragedy as four team members lost their lives in a fall just below the summit during the descent. The second ascent occurred just three days after Whymper’s triumph, from the Italian side. The mountain’s difficult north face wasn’t climbed until July 31 and August 1, 1931.

The Matterhorn’s north face overlooks the Swiss Zmutt Valley, whilst the south stands guard over the Italian ski resort village of Breuil-Cervinia. The Theodul Pass, a trade route used by Ancient Romans and Celts as early as 100BC connects the two destinations. Unknown to most, the Romans originally named the Matterhorn, ‘Mons Silvius’. In fact, it wasn’t until sometime during the 1500’s that Germans named the mountain, the Matterhorn, derived from “matte” meaning meadow and “horn” meaning peak

climbing route

The climbs are long and demanding and it’s essential that climbers have previous alpine mountaineering experience. The usual route is up the Hörnli ridge, also called the North-East ridge. This is the central ridge that can be seen from the village of Zermatt at the foot of the mountain. The ascent starts at Hörnli Hut, a mountain hut situated at 3,260 metres (10,700 ft.) above sea level. It involves 4,000 feet of climbing and takes around six hours up and five hours down. There are fixed ropes on some parts of the climb. Although this is considered the easiest ascent it has an AD (fairly difficult) rating. Other routes on the mountain include the Zmutt ridge, the north face, and the Italian ridge (South-West or ‘Lion’ ridge) which was the route taken by the party that reached the summit three days after Whymper.

zermatt camp

If you are attempting to climb the Matterhorn the best times are from mid-July to mid-September, depending on the amount of snow on the mountain. However, it’s important to bear in mind that the weather on the mountain is dangerously unpredictable and changes commonly occur throughout the day.

ermatt is the world-renowned resort village at the foot of the Matterhorn, boasting luxury hotels, boutiques, restaurants and health spas. It is situated in the canton of Valais in the west of Switzerland.

milky way from matterhorn

International flights into Switzerland arrive at either Geneva or Zurich airports, with both providing easy access to Zermatt through the Swiss rail network. Train is the most convenient way to get to Zermatt as it is a car-free village. Only electric cars are allowed to operate within its boundaries.

Source : www.beautifulworld.com

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The Meteora

The Meteora are a collective of natural sandstone rock pillars, which have served as places of worship throughout modern history. With an average elevation of 313m (1027ft), the Meteora rocks stand proudly at the centre of an extraordinarily beautiful Greek landscape, housing 24 monasteries in total, of which 6 remain active. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, Meteora attracts tourists to the region in their thousands each year.

The name, ‘Meteora’ stems from the Greek adjective, meteoros, which means ‘middle of the sky’. Aptly named, the rock formations of Meteora jut out of the ground like giant fingers made of stone, allowing the various monasteries to sit, suspended in the air. It has taken millions of years for various forces of nature to sculpt out these unique rock pillars. Geologists believe that this process began approximately 60 million years ago during the Palaeogene period.

 interior of monastery

As early as the 11th century, monks occupied the caverns of Meteora. However, monasteries were not built until the 14th century, when the monks sought somewhere to hide in the face of an increasing number of Turkish attacks on Greece. At this time, access to the top was via removable ladders or windlass. Nowadays, getting up is a lot simpler due to steps being carved into the rock during the 1920’s. Of the 24 monasteries, only 6 (five male, one female) are still functioning, with each housing less than 10 individuals.

Meteora is not only a paradise for walkers, but for climbers too. In total, there are 700 different routes, encompassing 120 rock towers of the Meteora, and catering for climbers of all skill levels. If you are travelling with the intention of climbing, the best times to visit are between mid-March to mid-June or between mid-August to mid-November.

Given the cultural significance and popularity of Meteora, there are visitors all year round. Between December and March, the weather is cold and wet, whilst the months in-between July and October attract the largest crowds and peak season rates. Therefore, the best time to visit Meteora is in May or June in order to benefit from smaller crowds, pleasant weather and off-season rates.

The Meteora rocks are situated right in the heartland of central Greece (Thessaly), near the town of Kalampaka. To get to Kalampaka from Athens (218mi / 352km), you have the option of traveling by bus, car, or train. If you have a car, driving is probably the best way to get to Meteora, and should take approximately 4 hours, notwithstanding any traffic. If driving is not an option, you can take a direct, high-speed train from Athens to Kalampaka, which will take around 5 hours. Finally, and as a last resort, there are buses that can take you from Athens to Trikala, and then from Trikala to Kalampaka. These depart from Terminal B on Liosson Street and take 7-8 hours to arrive.


Source : www.beautifulworld.com

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St. Moritz

St. Moritz is the most famous holiday resort in the world. The sun shines an average of 322 days a year - more than anywhere else in Switzerland. Skiers, snowboarders and cross country skiing enthusiasts are drawn to St. Moritz by its natural beauty and quality infrastructure. In addition, St. Moritz stages a wide variety of first class events, to make it a holiday destination unmatched anywhere on the globe.

St. Moritz originally rose to importance because of its healing mineral springs and healthy climate, which have been appreciated for over 3,000 years. Already in the middle Ages, visitors came to St. Moritz to take the waters. Today, St. Moritz is one of the best-known and most prestigious ski resorts in the world, especially since having hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1928 and in 1948. The name "St. Moritz" stands for a chic, vibrant and elegant town, second home to the rich and famous, enjoying a special atmosphere and a dry, tingling champagne climate with 322 sunshine days yearly.
 

The assurance of snow and good weather, thanks to the height and southern aspect, provide ideal conditions for a long season and a unique wide range of winter sports opportunities offered to visitors. Skiing in St. Moritz is superb, with several different skiing areas available close by. St. Moritz offers numerous attractions throughout the winter - the quality, diversity and quantity of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world: the world's only Cresta Run, the world's first bobsled run, the tobogganing run on Muottas Muragl as well as horse and greyhound races, polo, cricket and curling tournaments on the frozen lake, ski jumping, the famous Engadin cross-country ski marathon with over 12,000 participants, the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival and the St. Moritz Music Festival "Snow & Symphony".

But also in summer St. Moritz offers plenty of outdoor and indoor activities, and recently had more visitors in summer than in winter. This world-renowned resort is resplendent in its picturesque surroundings on the edge of a pristine mountain lake. St. Moritz offers the appealing combination of an unspoiled natural environment, cultural activities, sports possibilities, attractive facilities, great shopping and a relaxing atmosphere. Fascinating walks - exhilarating hikes, mountain biking tours, golf, horse riding, windsurfing and sailing are some of the many activities which can be experienced. St. Moritz is also the starting point for some of the scenic trains of Switzerland such as the "Glacier Express" to Zermatt, or the "Bernina Express" to Lugano.

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Arc de triomphe

If anything rivals the Eiffel Tower as the symbol of Paris, it’s this magnificent 1836 monument to Napoleon’s 1805 victory at Austerlitz, which he commissioned the following year. The intricately sculpted triumphal arch stands sentinel in the centre of the Étoile (‘star’) roundabout. From the viewing platform on top of the arch (50m up via 284 steps and well worth the climb) you can see the dozen avenues.

Av de la Grande Armée heads northwest to the skyscraper district of La Défense, where the Grande Arche marks the western end of the Axe Historique.

The most famous of the four high-relief panels at the base is to the right, facing the arch from the av des Champs-Élysées side. It’s entitled Départ des Volontaires de 1792 (Departure of the Volunteers of 1792) and is also known as La Marseillaise (France’s national anthem). Higher up, a frieze running around the whole monument depicts hundreds of figures, each one 2m high.

Beneath the arch at ground level lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Honouring the 1.3 million French soldiers who lost their lives in WWI, the Unknown Soldier was laid to rest in 1921, beneath an eternal flame which is rekindled daily at 6.30pm.

Don’t cross the traffic-choked roundabout above ground if you value your life! Stairs lead from the northern side of the Champs-Élysées beneath the Étoile to pedestrian tunnels (not linked to metro tunnels) that bring you out safely beneath the arch. Tickets to the viewing platform are sold in the tunnel.

Source: www.lonelyplanet.com

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Explore The King of Landforms in europe

The most majestic of all landscapes is the fjord, a glacial formation that carves out deep, narrow valleys filled with sparkling waters. High walls preside over the water, providing spectacular views and excellent hiking. Although there are many glacial features that resemble fjords throughout the world, the truest and most beautiful fjords can be found in Europe.

Fjords are the most ideal landform for exhilarating outdoor recreation. Geirangerfjord in Norway boasts snow-covered mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls, forcing travelers to catch their breath as they hike. For a completely different experience, take a sightseeing cruise or kayak by water and look up in wonder upon the fjords, mountain peaks and cliffs.

Discover the fishing towns among the East Fjords in Iceland and explore the majestic mountains, rolling hills, and crystal lakes via hiking and horseback riding. For an even more nature-filled experience, visit Killary Harbor in Ireland, a fjord covered in lush emerald flora. Take a break from the everyday with a ride on the beach on the back of a Connemara pony and bring your binoculars to see local pods of dolphins jump among the waters.

If exploring a fjord isn’t on your bucket list, be sure to add it. You won’t be able to forget the mighty majesty of Europe’s incredible fjords. 

Source : Visiteurope.com

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