When the nights get a slight chill, but the days are still crisp and clear, there is no better time to head to the birthplace of Alpine tourism in the Alps, the historic village of Zermatt. Fresh snow on the glaciers and peaks, the larch trees beginning to turn a golden hue, and impossibly-blue skies make for great hiking conditions. And a wide assortment of the famous on-mountain restaurants offer some of the best fare you’ll every try on a mountainside.
This photo was taken on the hike to the hamlet of Zmutt - just facing the North Face of the Matterhorn, a centuries-old shepherds’ village sits perched in the most unlikely spot. When we arrived, a bridal luncheon for 100 people was going on at one of the restaurants, the wine was flowing, and the atmosphere could not have been better if you’d dreamt of it. We love Zermatt at all times of the year, but the fall is truly a special season here.