Riffelalp Chapel is a Private Chapel 2,210 Metres Above Sea Level:
Riffelalp Chapel - Zermatt
Located over 2,210 metres above sea level is Riffelalp, an intermediate station of the Gornergrat-Bahn. Many hikers come up here to start their Alpine hikes, and also at Riffelalp are the Riffelalp Resort and the Riffelalp Chapel, a chapel built by Alexander Seiler, founder of Zermatt’s Seiler hotel empire, and his wife Catharine Seiler-Cathrein.
The Riffelalp Chapel is a private chapel, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 3 July 1887 and to this day it is still owned by the Seiler family. This whitewashed chapel has a small bell tower and small canopy over the entrance. The chapel is only open to the public on certain occasions. If you’re there in summer, mass is held on Saturdays and this is when the public can get to visit the chapel.
Inside Riffelalp Chapel
Inside the chapel two commemorative plates honour the founders of the chapel. The altar, the arched windows and the choir arch display various new Gothic elements.
The main figure of the altar, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is flanked by statues of the Mother of God and presumably of Saint-Rita. Two coloured glass windows with images of the Mother of God and Joseph allow light to enter the choir. The windows in the nave are made of undecorated clear glass. On the walls of the Chapel are decorations and commemorative plates for various members of the Seiler family.
Today, the chapel is rented out for wedding parties and what a magnificent venue for weddings.
Riffelalp Chapel is also a classical concert venue for the Zermatt Festival. See what’s on and book your concert tickets HERE.
To get to Riffelalp Chapel, take the Gornergrat mountain railway to Riffelalp station and then, for the final leg, the Riffelalp Resort owns a tram which goes directly to the Riffelalp Chapel.
Alternatively, it is also possible to walk to the Chapel from the station. The five-minute walk is on one of the most beautiful trails of the Alps.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
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I just return from Zermatt. Lots of snow, blue sky and minus temperatures up to minus 28 Celsius on the Weekend.(Little Matterhorn, not in Zermatt itself).
of course I skied down from Gorner Grad, via Riffle Alp etc, etc
when where you there ?
BR – Peter
Hi Pete,
Glad to hear you had a great time skiing. We went up the Kleine Matterhorn and visited Zermatt as well in 2011, but did not ski. Minus 28 Celsius is a tad cold for my liking.
Cheers,
Helen