Zermatt Opens Highest ‘Hotel’ In Europe
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
Zermatt has opened the highest accommodation in Europe, although it is not quite of the four and five star standards for which the resort is famous.
The ski centre already operates Europe’s highest ski lifts at 3799m, but the new restaurant and ‘hotel’ are 84m higher still 3883m.
The restaurant, at the top of their Matterhorn Glacier paradise year-round ski area, seats 120 and has accommodation for up to 40 mountaineers.
The highest environmental standards have been employed in construction and the building is almost entirely self sufficient, with energy provided by solar power generated on site along with thermal heat pumps.
Indeed the building is so environmentally efficient it actually exports electricity back to the Swiss powder grid, as it makes more than it needs.
All waste is treated and recycled at the restaurant itself thanks to what is believed to be the world’s highest sewage treatment works.
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