36 Frequent visitor | <strong>Zermatt</strong> <strong>Magazin</strong> BENNO BLESSING ON HIS HOMELAND AND THE FASCINATION OF ZERMATT Since 1958, Benno Blessing has been coming from Schlieren, in the suburbs of Zurich, to visit <strong>Zermatt</strong>. He has already spent his holidays here at least 40 times. Every time, he says, it's like coming home. Out and about with Benno Blessing.
Frequent visitor | <strong>Zermatt</strong> <strong>Magazin</strong> 37 <strong>Zermatt</strong> attracts guests from all over the world, thanks to its incomparable nature, magnificent Alps, distinctive architecture and unique village character. First-time visitors never seem to tire of looking at the impressive sight of the Matterhorn or the mountain peaks all around, sparkling as if dusted with sugar. But even long-time guests of the destination are often repeatedly fascinated by the village of <strong>Zermatt</strong>: even Benno Blessing. Benno Blessing first visited <strong>Zermatt</strong> in 1958, as a child on a family holiday. Today, 65 years later, he again – or, rather, still – goes through the streets and alleys of the world-class resort. And if you accompany Benno Blessing there from Schlieren, you not only learn something about the man who holds <strong>Zermatt</strong> near and dear, but also learn a lot about the village. Pointing at the Hotel Monte Rosa, Blessing says "This was the first hotel in <strong>Zermatt</strong>." And in the "Hinterdorf " ("rear village") Benno Blessing knows the story of two typical Valais cottages with sun-blackened timbers: "Half of this house was once burnt out." He has spent his holidays in <strong>Zermatt</strong> at least 40 times. "You know, all of a sudden, it's just time again, and I’m drawn to <strong>Zermatt</strong>. Then I come home," says Benno Blessing. Here he can catch his breath and enjoy the quiet; here he knows the people, the food, and the buildings, and here he feels at home. He also enjoys the return journey to Schlieren, but every time he again looks forward to his next stay in <strong>Zermatt</strong>, says Blessing. If you ask Benno Blessing just what fascinates him so, you get a multifaceted answer: " There is so much: Nature – in <strong>Zermatt</strong> you have, for example, more than 400 types of flowers, some are only native to here – the alpine world, the village character. And the way of the Valais people. They are a bit reserved at first, but once you get to know each other, they will give you everything." It is this hospitality that Blessing praised many times in the course of the conversation. And over the years, Bruno Blessing made sure to be thoroughly informed about the destination of <strong>Zermatt</strong>. He remembers that so much information, so many thoughts and memories about the village were swimming around in his head that he gradually began to write everything down: from waste management for hotels and infrastructure to the flora and fauna. In time, he compiled more than 100 topics. He digitsed the results of his research. He likes to give friends storage media titled "<strong>Zermatt</strong> from A–Z." "Maybe this will make someone new notice <strong>Zermatt</strong> and travel here someday," says Benno Blessing with a smile, while he turns back into the Bahnhofstrasse and watches a group of tourists taking photographs. A lot has changed since Benno Blessing was first in <strong>Zermatt</strong>. The village has grown and become more modern, and attracts international guests. It needs changes, says Blessing. "Everything grows and changes, not least with the younger generation. That is normal and that's what it takes. Of course I would like it if everything about the village stayed the way it is, but it also needs a good balance between tradition and innovation. And this has succeeded optimally in <strong>Zermatt</strong>." Now Benno Blessing is standing on the village square in front of the church and watches some people photographing the Matterhorn with their mobile phones. He can easily understand this fascination. You can see pictures and prints of the Matterhorn all over the world, but the subject itself surpasses all of them. "Even after so many years, it always impresses me anew." However, Benno Blessing knows that <strong>Zermatt</strong> is still much more than the beautiful Matterhorn. It's the scent of the forests in <strong>Zermatt</strong>, the good, clean air, the particular atmosphere here. He remembers an evening on the Gornergrat: the sun was setting and the Monte Rosa massif was illuminated by the last rosy light of the day. " That's when I suddenly realized the reason for its name. It was such a mystical, reverent moment." <strong>Zermatt</strong>, particularly during the summer and winter season, becomes a meeting place for an international clientele. People travel from near and far to spend their holidays in this destination's special atmosphere. So many from all over the world come together peacefully in <strong>Zermatt</strong>, says Benno Blessing. He now sits in front of a restaurant, lifts his coffee cup to his lips and lets his eye wander over the passers-by who are looking around wide-eyed, taking in the shop windows or pointing in the direction they assume the Matterhorn is. "If I could have a wish granted, it would be that all people would be infected by this peace in <strong>Zermatt</strong> and carry it out to the whole world," says Blessing. If he picks up an earthy local expression now and then, he smiles. He understands the local German dialect quite easily, he says. He just can't speak the dialect too well yet. "I would rather leave that to the Wallisers, they can definitely do it better than I can," says Benno Blessing with a laugh. He looks at the clock: in half an hour his train leaves, in a few hours he will be back home in Schlieren. However, he is already planning his next stay in <strong>Zermatt</strong> – and looking forward to coming home here, too.
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