welcome to the legend trail! the giant gargantua. signs and wonders

OF MUSIC AND DANCE.
WELCOME
TO THE LEGEND TRAIL!
Legend sources:
• Valais Legends, Josef Guntern, Walter Verlag Zurich
• Zermatt Myths and Legends, Karl Lehner
• Hiking Guide, Ernesto Perren, Rotten Verlag
• BrauchtumSchweiz.ch
7,600 m
2 h 45 min
2 h
mountain hike
453 m
Berghaus Grünsee,
Buffet Bar
Sunnegga,
various restaurants
in Findeln
June to
October
kid-friendly
Grünsee:
Grünsee rests in a trough at 2,300 meters. The forest
climbs to this altitude here, which is rare in Switzerland, except in Valais. The water level fluctuates; thus
the lakeside vegetation is not particularly pronounced.
3
Grindjisee:
Grindjisee lies in a nature preserve at an elevation of
2,334 meters. The lake is fed by melt water. Grindjisee is loved especially for its extraordinary reflected
view of the Matterhorn.
THE GIANT GARGANTUA.
SIGNS AND WONDERS.
THE FLYING MONSTER.
Enjoy the grandiose view of the Matterhorn and learn an
astounding story about its creation.
A giant named Gargantua lived many thousands of years
ago in Valtournenche. This sunny valley was sheltered
from the cold north wind by a high rock wall. Thus, in
this valley, nature could flourish undisturbed. This corner
of the world was very fertile. Even the milk flowed in
brooks, from which lambs drank. The giant was friendly
with the people of the valley. But one day he wanted to
see what was on the other side of the rock wall. As he
stepped foot in Zermatt, the rock wall collapsed. Only
the Matterhorn remained, towering above the rubble.
Right behind you, at Findel Glacier, the dead used to
wander (the Gratzug) through mountain and valley.
Rich Josisch Wisi once told this story here: “We were
carrying provisions to Fluhalphütte. As we cut into the
valley, we heard a drumming, whistling, and murmuring
on the other side of the glacier – without a doubt, it was
the Gratzug. We were afraid, and we heard the sounds
drawing nearer. Suddenly my brother Joseph said: “Those
are the poor souls”, and I said, “May God have mercy on
them”, and suddenly a silence fell. No wonder; because
one says that these suffering souls only show themselves
and make themselves heard so that someone will answer
with a “God have mercy”. There are signs and wonders
that the world no longer understands today. Bit I assure
you, as old Hanspierla once told me, that nature has so
many secrets that we stupid humans don’t even understand one in a thousand!”
See the gold sand on the bottom of this idyllic mountain
lake?
The “Vuivra”, it is said, is a flying monster that wears a
crown on its head, has wings of fire, and has a body like
a dragon. The beast feeds on gold sand, which it stirs up
from the bottom of the three larger mountain lakes. When
the gold sand on the floor of one lake is exhausted, the
beast rises from the water, takes to the air, and races in a
dreadful flight to the next lake to feed on the gold sand
there, which has again collected in the water while it was
away. It can happen that the voracious monster, locked
beneath the frozen ice, finds the winter too long and
sometimes has only a meagre Fassnacht. Then he thuds
on the hard ice crust with such force that the surrounding
mountains and valleys thunder.
THE FLYING MONSTER.
2
Stellisee:
Stellisee rests 2,537 meters above sea level. The basin of
the lake was hollowed out by Findel Glacier and the lake
fills with snowmelt.
SIGNS AND WONDERS.
Punch this leaflet at each lake using the control punch.
Show your fully punched leaflet at the Sunnegga valley
station or to Zermatt Tourism and you will receive a
small gift.
1
THE GIANT GARGANTUA.
Legends tell about fantastic events that are closely associated with a place. These short stories have been passed
down orally from generation to generation. Most of the
tales have a religious connection or are rooted in tradition.
Zermatt, with its original residents, rambling valleys, and
living tradition, offers rich stuff for countless myths – some
amusing, some eerie, and some tragic. You can discover a
few of them as you hike the 5-lake trail.
THE LOST BABY.
It leads you along mystic lakes through the majestic mountain world of Zermatt.
© Jasmin Scherrer
LEGEND TRAIL.
1
2
Along the 5 - lake trail
3
4
5
Please punch each lake on the front of this leaflet.
4
5
Recommended route
Valley Station Sunnegga – Sunnegga – Blauherd – Stellisee
Grindjisee – Grünsee – Moosjisee – Leisee
MATTERHORN
ZERMATT BERGBAHNEN
Zermatt Bergbahnen AG
Postfach 378, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)27 966 01 01, Info: +41 (0)27 966 01 05
matterhornparadise@zermatt.ch, www.matterhornparadise.ch
Zermatt Tourismus
Bahnhofplatz 5, 3920 Zermatt
Tel.+41 (0)27 966 81 00, Fax +41 (0)27 966 81 01
info@zermatt.ch, www.zermatt.ch
Photos
Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Leisee: Michael Portmann
Moosjisee: Jasmin Scherrer
Moosjisee:
Moosjisee was built at an elevation of 2,140 meters. It is
a source of hydroelectric power generated by Zermatt
Electricity Works (EWZ). The lake is fed with water from
Findel Glacier. The turbine is in Zermatt, in the Wiesti
district. Swimming in Moosjisee is strictly prohibited.
Leisee:
Leisee rests below Sunnegga station and is the most
popular lake for relaxing and swimming. Fireplaces,
seating, and a playground are at lake side.
THE LOST BABY.
OF MUSIC AND DANCE.
Over there, at Aroleid, the legendary eagle rose into
the sky.
A certain mountain In Zermatt is called “Aroleid”, which
means as much as sorrow caused by an Ari (vulture) or
grey eagle. This name, it is said, comes from the following
tragic event: A mother, who was tending cattle, laid her
infant in the grass to fetch a cow that had wandered off.
While she was away, a vulture came – “d’s Ari” – and stole
her baby. When she returned, she saw a great bird in the
air and hanging from it a long band. The distressed woman
knew immediately what this meant. She filled mountain
and dale with her wailing, but never found her dear baby
again.
Take a break above the unique hamlet of Findeln, formerly
home of the best dancers.
The simple lifestyle of our self-supporting ancestors was
shaped by the locations of their vastly dispersed pastures
and fields, virtually forcing a half-nomadic lifestyle. It was
easier, and nearly the only viable option – and an ecologically sensible one – to take the cattle to the pastures rather
than to constantly shuffle hay and manure back and forth.
The Zermatt folk thus had homes and stables both in the
village and in the mountain pastures, as in Findeln. Once
the work season in Zermatt was over, they moved on with
their cattle and necessities to Findeln, where they spent
the entire time from late autumn until Christmas. This was
the time of sitting together in the evening, making music,
and (strictly forbidden by the priest) dancing. In former
times in Zermatt it was said: “Whoever can dance is just a
Findler!” It was a hard, frugal, but wonderful time.
MATTERHORN
ZERMATT BERGBAHNEN