The name of Zermatt, as well the Matterhorn itself, derives from the alpine meadows, or 'mattern' (in German), in the valley. The name appeared first as Zur Matte (at the meadow) and later became Zermatt. It does not appear until 1495 on a map or 1546 in a text but may have been employed long before.
The town of Zermatt lies at the southern end of the Matter Valley, which is one of the lateral branches of the grand Valley of the Rhone. Zermatt is almost completely by the high mountains of the Pennine Alps including Monte Rosa (specifically its tallest peak named Dufourspitze), Switzerland's highest peak at 4634 metres (15,203 ft) above sea level. It is followed by the Dom (4,545 m or 14,911 ft), Liskamm (4,527 m or 14,852 ft), Weisshorn (4,505m or 14,780 ft) and the Matterhorn (4,478 m or 14,692 ft). Most of the Alpine four-thousanders are located around Zermatt or in the neighbouring valleys.
Provenance
With James Bourlet and Sons Ltd.
Exhibitions
Royal Institute, no. 140, 1938.