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Come to Zermatt - Looking for a winter break, perhaps to ski or just chill out for a few days amid glorious Alpine scenery? Well, you could do worse than end up in Zermatt in the Swiss Alps!

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Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Get your bearings with a ride 3,883 m (9,458 ft) up on the world's highest-altitude cable car, and marvel at 14 glaciers and 38 mountain peaks.

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Shopping and nightlife - No cars are allowed in Zermatt, which makes walking and window shopping a real pleasure. And the après-ski scene is as lively as it gets! (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Matterhorn Museum - Catch up on a bit of history by taking time out to browse this engaging cultural attraction, whose main theme is the Matterhorn. Much of the museum is set underground where a complete mountain village has been recreated.  (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Gornergrat Railway - Take a train from Zermatt to the summit of the Gornergrat, where the Kulm Hotel is situated. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Gornergrat Kulm Hotel -

How's this for getting away from it all? The Gornergrat Kulm Hotel perched at 3,120 m (10,236 ft) above sea level is also an observatory: two telescopes are installed on the hotel's towers.

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Matterhorn - You can't visit Zermatt without noticing a certain snow-flecked peak. Its iconic form makes the Matterhorn one of the most photographed mountains in the world. Its summit peaks at 4,478 m (14,692 ft). (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Klein Matterhorn -

Similarly, overlooking Zermatt is Klein Matterhorn ("Little Matterhorn"). Make sure you take the aerial tramway for a dizzy flight to the top. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Restaurant Julen - Zermatt is a destination known for its cuisine, both traditional Swiss fare and more contemporary dishes. Book a table at Restaurant Julen on Riedstrasse for beautifully presented gourmet food. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Grand Hotel Zermatterhof - Zermatt has some wonderful accommodation options, but if you want to slum it in style, book a stay at the plush five-star Zermatterhof. Expect an individually furnished room, fine gastronomy, and a luxury spa, among other guest amenities.

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Skiing in Zermatt - Zermatt is Switzerland's highest ski resort. Over 360 km's (223 mi) worth of ski runs for all levels and abilities promise fantastic skiing.

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Breithorn Plateau - One of these runs takes in the Breithorn Plateau, which is also a favorite location for hikers and climbers. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Hiking - Always a popular summer destination for Alpine hiking, Zermatt can also be explored on foot in winter. In fact, it's the most famous mountain climbing village in the region. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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St. Mauritius Church - Back in the village and worth a diversion for its glittering 18th-century altar, Zermatt's main church building in fact dates from much later, having been rebuilt in 1913. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Celebrity resident - During your stay you might bump into Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA fame, who resides in Zermatt. The village often glows in the celebrity limelight, attracting A-listers to its pristine ski slopes. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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William and Kate - In 2007, the world's press descended on Zermatt to follow Prince William and his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton on holiday in the Swiss Alps village.

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Prince on the piste - Prince William in full flow enjoying his 2007 winter holiday in Zermatt.

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Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge - This is the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Spanning 494 m (1,621 ft) and running 85 m (279 ft) above the ground at its highest point, the bridge is part of a hiking path between Zermatt and Grächen. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Picturesque - The village is a picture-book location, as popular in summer as it is in winter. And wherever you point the camera, the Matterhorn's coned hat always seems to photobomb the image.

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Flight of fancy - If a cable car doesn't do it for you, Air Zermatt operates daily sightseeing flights (weather permitting) that take you up close and personal to the Matterhorn. Note that flights only depart with groups of at least four people.

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Commemoration - Solar powered lights are pictured along the Hoernli ridge on the Matterhorn in 2015 to commemorate the first ascent of the mountain by Edward Whymper on July 14, 1865, with six other roped team members.

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Peak previews - A lofty view of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Hérens from Tête Blanche. Note the crucifix. Around 500 climbers have perished in their attempt to summit the Matterhorn, thus making it one of the deadliest mountains in the world.

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The Breithorn - The Breithorn (western summit), as seen from Klein Matterhorn (west side). It's considered the most easily climbed 4,000- m (13,123-ft) Alpine peak... if you're an expert, of course!

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World-class skiing - Believe it or not, at Zermatt you can ski 365 days of the year! The location straddles the Swiss-Italian border and is quite simply one of best-developed and extensive ski resorts anywhere in the world.

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Meal break in the mountains - Between skiing or snowboarding, there are plenty of places to unwind over a meal and a drink or two. Try Chez Vrony (advance reservations essential in winter) for hearty Swiss fare.

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Omnia Hotel - A contemporary interpretation of a traditional mountain lodge, Omnia was designed by Istanbul-born American architect Ali Taylor (1959–2016). It affords unrivaled views of the Matterhorn.

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Iglu-Dorf Hotel - In keeping with the winter season and for those with a sense of adventure, you can always shun the luxury five-stars and instead bed down for the night at the Iglu-Dorf Hotel—igloo-style accommodation carved entirely out of ice!

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Alpine hideaway - The view from modern ski chalets back towards the center of Zermatt.

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Zermatt after dark - Zermatt aglow mid-winter. Its spectacular setting at the foot of the Matterhorn makes this Alpine village one of the most popular destinations in Switzerland.

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Toblerone and the Matterhorn -

This famous Swiss chocolate brand is enjoyed the world over. But did you know that the bar's distinctive triangular shape is based on the Matterhorn's outline? (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 3.0)

See also: Let's go to Lapland, a winter wonderland!

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