CHEZ VRONY

What was once a humble farmhouse called Alpenheim was turned into a teahouse in 1922 by then-owner Severin Julen’s wife Veronica, who also happens to be the first woman to climb the Matterhorn. The establishment, which she named Findelboard, served milk, soup, and tea to thirsty hikers and mountaineers. When Severin died in 1962, his son August inherited the “old shed”, as the family called it. Years later, after expanding and renovating the building, his daughter Vrony and her husband Max opened the establishment that has since been known as Chez Vrony, or Vrony’s place. It’s still very much a family affair, as is the custom in the small villages of the Alps.

The old farmhouse has come a long way since the first guests were served here more than a century ago. Nowadays, Chez Vrony is renowned far beyond the valley for its cozy hospitality and well-prepared cuisine, and has become one of the most attractive spots on the mountain in Zermatt for lunch, or just an apéritif in the sun on the terrace while you take in the majestic view of the Matterhorn.

What really sets Chez Vrony apart is that it’s one of very few mountain restaurants that uses its own, locally grown produce. The meat comes from their own cattle, which grazes on the nearby alpine pastures. Chez Vrony is, to put it simply, as local as it gets, and perfectly merges traditional lifestyles with modern mountain life.