Hotel Pollux
Only a 5-minute walk from the train station and you are here, at the Hotel Pollux. You couldn’t be any more centrally located in Zermatt than this.
Ideal for outdoor sports lovers who enjoy comfort, delicious food and are looking for a truly local experience. The wooden hotel surroundings give you that real mountain feeling. Warm ambiences that go together with the warmth of the Pollux team. Friendly, caring individuals making sure you’ll feel at home.
I had come a few times before to Zermatt, but I think this was the first time I had the chance to live the place thoroughly and feel embraced by this charming valley. An authentic Zermatt experience is guaranteed.
Not only because of its location, as mentioned previously, but the Hotel is also run by a true local. A family business since 1894, run nowadays by the fourth generation, Jonathan Taugwalder. The Taugwalder family has a long history behind and has a strong name in the region, known for Peter Taugwalder Father and Son who were part of the team climbing the 4’478 meters high Matterhorn for the very first time back in 1865. There were seven participants in the expedition, and all of them reached the top. However, on the way down, one of the ropes snapped, killing four of them. The other three (including Peter Taugwalder Father and Son) reached back to Zermatt safely.
A few years later, Alexander Taugwalder got known for being 150 times on top of the Matterhorn. One can say a family with ambitions, perseverance and dedication - making things happen and following their passions, always accompanied by a typical Valais sense of humour.
That mood is well translated in the Hotel Pollux and their Mountain Hut Fluhalp (a bit more about the hut down below).
In normal circumstances, the Hotel Pollux has three restaurants: the Pinte, Arvenstube and the Vegistube. Each one with an own promise - The Pinte being a typical local restaurant, with all the delicious specialities the Valais has to offer: the best Raclette (with a cheese produced specially for the Hotel), Fondue & Rösti are guaranteed.
For the ones wanting more international cuisine, the Arvenstube is the place to go. A mixture of different offers, depending on your mood and hunger.
Last but not least, the Vegistube is the only vegetarian restaurant you will find in Zermatt. Delicious food with ingredients carefully selected. A variety of options for you to indulge yourself in. A clear statement that vegetarian food does not have to be boring. Even the contrary, I believe it might inspire the meat-eaters to try something different ;)
As gastronomy outlets were still closed to outside guests during my stay, I, unfortunately, did not experience the space as it usually runs - a morning coffee culture with the locals at the Pinte, lunch menus in the afternoon, the three distinct dinner offers and a bar where visitors meet locals after a day outdoors. I hope that next time I come, everything is running smoothly again and I can experience the full Pollux offer.
Due to the Corona situation, they combined different options of each restaurant into one menu, together with a daily special, available to all hotel guests. A great variety is available, and even while staying a bit more than a week here, I didn’t get bored with the food ;) The bar is also open for hotel guests, guaranteeing a relaxed apéro before dinner by the fireplace as well as a drink to drift off.
The rooms are incredibly comfortable. Facing the main Street in Zermatt, one is truly inserted in the feeling of staying in a mountain valley. Either from the room or the terrace in front of the Hotel, a perfect spot to observe people. Watching people of every kind coming and going, and always having a glimpse of the mountains in the background.
After a good night sleep, nothing like a good breakfast. A vast buffet with all the options you can imagine, various types of bread, fresh juice, local cheese, müesli, cake, pancakes, eggs, and the list goes on - for every taste and mood, a little something. The room where the breakfast is served is bright and cosy, inviting you to stay there as long as you wish.
In the afternoon, daily, from 15h - 17h, tea and cake are offered in the relaxing lounge—a great treat for that late afternoon craving.
They also have a spa area with a sauna, jacuzzi, massage offers and a relaxation area to recover the energies after being out and about. In autumn, they will be offering a whole new space, though, so stay tuned ;)
It was very fast until I felt at home. The hospitality of Jonathan and his team makes you feel welcomed. Good talks, uncomplicated, friendly smiles and always eager to help. He made sure I went up to the mountains to view the Matterhorn from other perspectives and gave me great hiking tips, even organising snowshoes for me to try out (something I hadn’t tried out before).
While staying at the Hotel Pollux, Jonathan also organised that I visited the Fluhalp Hut for an evening, a restaurant and guesthouse run by his uncle Reinhard. Together with a friend, we took the cable railway up to Blauherd, from where a relaxing 45 minutes walk with a breathtaking view takes you to Fluhalp. The sun shining beautifully, it felt like spring, with a constant VIP view to the Matterhorn. A sunset accompanied by a tasty Valais white wine was guaranteed (the region is very well known for its white wine, don’t miss it). After nature’s show was over, it was time to go inside and indulge ourselves with a delicious Fondue - of course, a must, in this rustic environment and the Matterhorn glowing outside under the full moonlight.
The hut was originally built in 1890 as a start point for climbers wanting to achieve various 4000 peaks in the region. In 1938 it was rebuilt to what it is today, a strategical location, right next to ski tracks, Skitour routes, biking paths, and climbing and various hiking options. Also, for the less sporty individuals, just having the opportunity to go to bed and waking up facing one of Europe’s most famous peaks is indescribable. A silence that cannot be described. The calmness of the mountain air. Felt like living a dream.
I can highly recommend the combo - Hotel Pollux for a few nights and the Fluhalp Hut for at least one night to fully experience the Zermatt region. I look forward to vising it in Summer again ;)
