Matt between winter routes and history

Matt is a village in the municipality of Glarus Süd in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. It combines winter activities in the Weissenberge with hiking trails, church history, and regional traditions. The Matt–Weissenberge cable car connects Matt with the Weissenberge, a terrace on the southern slope of the Gulderstock, about 500 metres above Matt.

Winter in the Weissenberge

The Weissenberge have ski touring routes. A toboggan run leads down from there to Matt. The Weissenberge–Matt toboggan run follows the Chrauchtal Gorge; it starts at the Weissenberge mountain station and ends at the Matt valley station. For specific winter plans, check the toboggan run’s seasonal operating conditions.

The Schiben winter circular hike passes through the peaceful, unspoilt winter landscape of the Weissenberge. Another winter route is the Matt–Weissenberge snowshoe tour via the Waldibach. Together with the ski touring routes and the toboggan run, these trails offer different ways to experience the winter landscape.

Hiking and trails

The Weissenberge–Matt forest nature trail is two kilometres long; walking time is about one hour. Information boards cover native trees and shrubs, as well as their flowers, fruit, seeds, and wood. The trail combines the walk with themes related to local plant life.

A circular hike passes through Matt, the Weissenberge, the Fittern Käsepass Alpine pasture, Vorderegg, and the Krauchtal before returning to Matt. The main circular trails in the Weissenberge are suitable for pushchairs. The Stäfeli Trail leads from the well-preserved Walser settlement of Weissenberge to the idyllically situated Stäfeli ski lodge.

Churches, cultural heritage, and customs

In 1273, the Church of Matt was elevated from a chapel to a parish church. The present building probably dates from 1497 and features a significant late Gothic wooden ceiling. The Reformed church in Matt is associated with the years 1261 and 1758 and is designated category B.

Other cultural heritage sites are also specifically identified: the Brummbachhaus in Matt is classified as a category A cultural asset. The Fuggtäli in Matt is a medieval abandoned Alpine settlement, designated category B.

The Schybenflüügens custom is depicted in Matt’s municipal coat of arms. During Carnival, people use long hazel sticks to fling burning, square wooden discs from a mountainside down into the valley. The timing, tools, and path of the discs together give the custom its distinctive form.

Alpine farming and a mountain biking tour

Egg, Riseten, and the Krauchtal have been used for agriculture since the Middle Ages; corresponding entries appear in the Säckingen Urbar of 1350. There are three dairies in the Krauchtal, two of which make cheese. This information adds insight into the region’s agricultural character to the description of its trails.

The Chrauchtal–Engi mountain biking tour starts in Matt and climbs through the Chrauchtal along the Chrauchbach stream to the Vorderegg Alpine pasture. It then descends to Engi. The route is easy to follow, from the start in Matt, up the climb, and on to the finish in Engi.

Discover more destinations: Obstalden, Braunwald, Mühlehorn, Engi, Näfels, Mollis, Nidfurn, Filzbach

For the broader travel overview: Glarus.