Matterhorn Alpine Crossing

A long-cherished vision becomes reality: a connection between Zermatt and the Italian resort of Cervinia, unbroken and operational throughout the year, thanks to the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing. As of 1 July 2023, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II will be the final piece of the puzzle, as the highest continuous Alpine crossing by cable car is completed. The modern cableway will link the peak Matterhorn Glacier Paradise with Testa Grigia in Italy. Following the opening of the Matterhorn Glacier Ride I in the autumn of 2018, the completion of the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II will see the two resorts joined by a continuous link, the realization of a dream born over 80 years ago.

On 1 July 2023, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II will go into operation. This will open up the last section of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing and travellers will be able to descend from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise down to Testa Grigia without snow sports equipment. The cabins cover the 1.6 km stretch over the Theodul glacier in suspension, as no masts are needed for the 363-metre difference in altitude. The project of superlatives brings pure deceleration with a view of the breathtaking mountain world.

As with the first stage of the cableway project, the design of the station extension in the direction of Testa Grigia will further develop the concept of crystalline forms, the idea being to blend the appearance of the station with that of the rock wall of the Klein Matterhorn. The shell of the hall will be made from timber, just like the existing station building. The wooden construction not only serves to enhance the stability of the mountain station, it will also give the building a warm and attractive appearance.

Another special feature of the mountain station is that two independently operating facilities can be connected with rails that allow cabins to be swapped between the two cableway systems.

The valley station of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing is being built directly on the Italian border, but still entirely on Swiss territory. This station at 3'458 metres will finally close the gap between Italy and Switzerland. As with the other cableway stations, the Testa Grigia valley station will have a timber construction, giving it a warm and modern appearance. The SnowXperience Plateau Rosa world of experience is being created all around.

As soon as the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to Testa Grigia section becomes operational, passengers arriving at Testa Grigia will be able to change directly onto the new 3S cableway towards the highest mountain station in europe. The path connecting the stations is just a few paces. It also has wheelchair access. The same applies to stations along the whole stretch between Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt as at Testa Grigia.

The major project to build an Alpine Crossing entered its second phase in April 2019. After the successful start-up of the Matterhorn Glacier Ride l in the autumn of 2018, the section between the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Testa Grigia is the only missing link in the cableway connection between Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt. In future, a 3S cableway similar in construction to the Matterhorn Glacier Ride l will complete the link. The planned cost of construction is about 60 million Swiss francs. The new connection will make it possible to travel from Cervinia to Zermatt for the first time without getting your boots wet. If everything goes according to plan, the first passengers will cross the Alps by cableway on the 1 july 2023, with the Matterhorn constantly in sight.