Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Zermatt mural honours first woman to climb Matterhorn

Mural in Zermatt
The title of the work, 'No peak rise above her', refers to a poem dedicated to Lucy Walker’s achievement Thierry Sermier/Art Valais

Swiss-Tunisian artist Jasm One has paid tribute to Lucy Walker, the first female climber to conquer the Matterhorn 150 years ago, and to all female climbers. His mural, inaugurated this week, can be seen in the heart of the Swiss mountain resort of Zermatt.

The 18-metre-high work is opposite the train station and welcomes visitors. In the foreground is a blue triangle symbolising the Matterhorn and climbing. Inside the triangle is an archive image of Walker during her exploit.

In the background, the fresco shows a faceless woman wearing a dress and leather gloves and carrying a mountaineering rope over her shoulder.

The title of the work, No peak rise above her, appears in the middle of the mural. The phrase refers to a poem dedicated to Walker’s achievement.

More

Jasm One (real name Issam Rezgui) said that through Walker he also wanted to highlight “the problem of melting glaciers and the need for humanity to change its behaviour in the face of climate challenges”.

On July 22, 1871, 35-year-old British mountaineer Lucy Walker made climbing history. Six years after her compatriot Edward Whymper, she reached the peak of the iconic Matterhorn.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

No Swiss bank in phase with environmental objectives

More

Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF

This content was published on None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.

Read more: Swiss banks failing environment, says WWF
UNRWA provides emergency assistance to just over one million Palestine refugees, or about 75 per cent of all Palestine refugees in Gaza, who lack the financial means to cover their basic food.

More

Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

This content was published on The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.

Read more: Lazzarini: no alternative to UNRWA in Gaza

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR