The origins of our hotel go back to mountain pioneer Hermann Biner and a time when ski tourism in Zermatt was still unknown. Today, Hotel Silvana is run by the third generation of the Biner family – shaped by genuine hospitality and a deep connection to the mountains around Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
Built in traditional Valais style, our mountain hotel is located at 1,900 metres above sea level, surrounded by untouched alpine meadows where sheep and cows graze freely. A large marmot colony lives nearby, while historic chalets line the quiet paths around the hotel. Here, at the foot of the Matterhorn, guests experience the unique landscape of the Swiss Alps in an authentic and peaceful setting.
From Mountain Hut to Modern Wellness Hotel
Over the decades, Hotel Silvana has grown together with our family into a modern wellness and ski hotel that combines alpine tradition with contemporary comfort. Today, the third generation continues to preserve the hotel’s long-standing hospitality while continuously enhancing service and guest experiences.
The Roots of Hotel Silvana
The story of our hotel begins with mountain pioneer Hermann Biner during an era when ski tourism was still in its infancy. At the time, Zermatt had only a few mountain lifts, and supplying the mountain huts near the Matterhorn was extremely challenging.
In 1953, a slim 15-year-old boy was hired to carry food supplies from the village to the mountain hut at 3,200 metres above sea level. That boy was Hermann Biner. His greatest dream was to climb the Matterhorn, but none of the mountain guides were willing to take him because he could not afford their daily wage.
On the morning of August 15, 1953, a fatal accident occurred on the Matterhorn. The strongest mountain guide in Zermatt, Alfons Lerjen, was assigned to recover the body. After completing the difficult task, it was already too late for regular summit tours. Instead, he finally agreed to take young Hermann with him.
Expecting the teenager to tire quickly, Alfons set an extremely fast pace up the mountain. But when he asked Hermann if he needed to slow down, Hermann simply replied: “If you want, you can go even faster.”
Together, the unlikely pair reached the summit in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. Remarkably, they returned to the hut only three hours after departure — a route that normally takes around ten hours. Hermann Biner’s legendary ascent record remained unbeaten for almost sixty years until two young Zermatt mountain guides surpassed it by only a few minutes in 2011 using modern equipment.
Echte Gastfreundschaft seit GenerationenGenuine Hospitality Across Generations
Driven by his passion for the mountains, Hermann Biner began building a mountain lodge in Furi in 1968 together with his wife Ida. This marked the beginning of what would become Hotel Silvana.
Their children, Dany and his sister Evi, continued to expand and modernise the hotel with great enthusiasm. Today, they are supported by the third generation, Marc Biner, a professionally trained hotelier.
Looking ahead, Hotel Silvana remains committed to combining modern ski and wellness tourism with sustainable hospitality and a strong connection to the alpine world of Zermatt. We love our mountains — and we look forward to sharing that passion with you.
