Marmo Zermatt

Fabulous Furi

It is always magical to arrive in Zermatt and especially enchanting when the destination is Chalet Marmo. Disembark the cog railway in the centre of town, pile into an electric taxi and then ride the gondola up to Furi (with luggage transported for you). From here it is around 500m of well-maintained path to reach the chalet. Breathe the pure air, feel the mountains and take note of the skier gliding past on the piste that descends to town. You are truly ski-in, ski-out here. Spot the hot tub in the garden.

Chalet Marmo is quintessential Zermatt but what does that mean? This high mountain town, like its iconic mountain, has many faces. Chalet Marmo is not the Zermatt of glitz and glamour nor, entirely, that of rugged mountaineers. It is stunningly picturesque, blending alpine charm with modern comfort and a sense of style that is very Zermatt. It is located in Furi, the ancient hamlet that overlooks town from a sunny plateau right beneath the Matterhorn. Up here, you find the night time peace of times gone by under an endlessly starry sky. You also find the lift station from which all areas of Zermatt’s epic ski area are easily accessed. 

As well as quaint, Chalet Marmo is deceptively spacious. Sleeping arrangements combine that sense of a mountain hut without compromising on comfort. Two bedrooms are lovely doubles. Another has four single beds that suggest hut ambiance while offering space and luxurious bedding that take you a long way from hut life. Another has a set of bunkbeds. The two bathrooms are a long way from basic, one with a bath tub and the other a walk-in shower. Living spreads out semi-open plan, light and bright, and the large dining/kitchen area is like a welcoming farmhouse kitchen equipped with modern appliances. The sitting-room is warmed by a wood-burning fireplace. A piano adds not only a whisper of elegance but the chance of a jolly old singsong on those cosy chalet nights.

But a chalet up at Furi does not mean you are marooned, even after the gondola has been put to bed. Electro taxis offer transport from and/or to town, a 15 minute ride at about CHF80. The walk is around 30 to 45 minutes depending on the pace, and the choice is between the little path or the road used by the electros, a gentle stroll wending its way through forest. Neither do you have to wander far from the chalet for dining options - several of the restaurants up here open on various nights of the week, often for lively fondue nights, including Restaurant Marmo a little above the chalet and owned by the same family. For finer dining, there is the fabulous Gitz-Gädi in the Hotel Silvana just up the road. There are no shops in Furi but transporting supplies from town by gondola or electro and then the short walk (backpacks an advantage) to the chalet can be part of the fun. If you so wish you can request breakfast to be provided (pre-ordered at time of booking).

This is a privileged opportunity to live mountain life and to be first on the morning lift, if that is your penchant, while enjoying the little luxuries of a beautifully fitted out chalet. Fusing many faces of this unique destination, Chalet Marmo really is quintessentially Zermatt.