Zermatt Magazin 2015

Köbi Julen | Zermatt Magazin 99
rescue and alpine history. We received
full support from the municipality
president and mayor
along with Air Zermatt Director
Gerold Biner, who also sits on the
municipal council. This enabled us
to start the film project.
Is the film in the can?
Yes, the film entitled “Focus
Matter horn – Under the Spell of
the Mountain” is in the can.
So now you have a film, but still no
book about the mountain?
That’s right. While researching the
film, we discovered that we were
only able to make partial use of the
very many really interesting features
of Zermatt.
So we played with the idea of compiling
the unknown findings and
sound knowledge to present to the
public in book form. The Matterhorn
first ascent anniversary presented
itself as a good opportunity
to do so.
Abusizz – Where did you come up
with such a title for the book?
Abusizz is a word that people in
Zermatt know from their family
circle, friends and neighbours. I
carefully listened to conversations
between my parents when I was a
child. Later, I listened to what was
said in my ever-expanding circle of
acquaintances and also conducted
some personal research. In this way,
over the years, it all came together
and seemed worthwhile enough to
present in a book.
Poetry or truth? Are the
stories also true?
We value authenticity and provide
historically sound reports of events
that were experienced and recounted
in the village. That is also why we
«Plenty happened in
Zermatt in the course of
ten thousand years.»
wrote a binding subtitle that goes,
“Zermatt locals and scientists report”.
Archaeologists, geologists,
history professors and theologians
shared their thorough knowledge
with us for each of the topics and
vouch for the authenticity of respective
chapters of the book.
Good authors are everything
for a book. Which local legends were
given the honour of writing?
I was able to rely on experienced
experts for the various chapters.
Advice and texts were submitted by
Dr. Hermann Biner, Dr. Hanspeter
Holzhauser, Dr. Thomas Julen,
Klaus Julen, Dr. Urs Leuzinger,
Benedikt Schnyder Agathe Wirz,
among others.
Will you give us a tiny taste of the
well-guarded secrets of the upcoming
book launch?
Archaeological findings indicate
that the history of Zermatt goes
back to 8,000 years before Christ.
That is a veritable success story for
archaeologists. This archaeological
site was named Abri by those in
charge. Abri means refuge hut or
shelter.
Ten thousand years later, the people
of Zermatt built the base camp below
the Matterhorn to replace the
Hörnlihütte in 2014. They named it
Shelter. Abri and shelter mean the
same thing and there is only around
500 metres distance between the
ancient settlement and the new
base camp. Plenty happened in Zermatt
in the course of ten thousand
years. The more interesting features
are told in around 70 accounts and
compiled in the book which will be
published in 2015.
May we eagerly look forward
to the book Mr. Julen?
You certainly can!
zm
Köbi Julen Abusizz
Focus Matterhorn: le film / Abusizz: le livre
En 2015, Zermatt et son cirque
de montagnes, comptant 29 sommets
de plus de 4000 mètres, fêteront
le 150e anniversaire de la
première ascension du Cervin,
culminant à 4478 m d’altitude!
Une bonne raison pour organiser
divers événements touristiques
et mondains. Parmi ceux-ci, le
film Focus Matterhorn, tourné
à Zermatt sous la responsabilité
de Wilhelm Zurbrügg (auteur
de la Bible de la Montagne) et de
Köbi Julen.
Ce dernier, guide de montagne de
métier, a accepté de répondre aux
questions de Zermatt Magazin. Secret
de nature, il ne s’est cependant
pas trop étendu sur le contenu de
son film. Mais, les quelques éléments
fournis nous ont mis «l’eau à
la bouche».
ZM: Avez-vous tenu la caméra ?
KJ: Mon dieu, non! Il y a 30 ans,
le guide de montagne Gaby Wil-