Matterhorn Cervino 150: 10 days of celebrations to mark the anniversary of the first two ascents

150 years have passed since those historic and amazing climbs marked the end of the Golden age of alpinism, opening the doors to a new era and witnessed the start of the legendary Cervino mountain guides association. 150 years during which the Matterhorn has increasingly become the mountain of all mountains. And also an icon for other alpinists who, on its flanks, wrote other memorable chapters in its mountaineering history. Such as Luigi Carrel (nicknamed il Carrellino) who carried out, amongst others, the first ascent of the south face, of the East Face and the Direct route up the Furggen Ridge. Such as Walter Bonatti's 1965 solo ascent up the North Face, in winter and via a new route. And such as Alessandro Gogna e Leo Cerrutti who made the first ascent of the Z'Mutt Nose, or those carried out by Marco Barmasse and, more recently, his son Hervé who represents the Cervino mountain guides who have given so much to this mountain and to mountaineering in general.

To celebrate the Matterhorn, its men, the great challenges of the past and present and to pay homage to this world famous mountain, the municipality of Valtournenche and the Region of Valle d’Aosta have created the event entitled Cervino 150. This boasts a intense program of mountaineering, cultural and sporting events in which the Matterhorn is the focal point that inspires old and new visions. This is an invitation to everyone to experience, get to know and admire the Matterhorn. To get closer to this legendary mountain accompanied by mountain guides on walks or also on climbs to the summit. Not to be missed!

COMPLETE PROGRAM CERVINO 150:
www.lovevda.it/it/eventi/cervino-150 and www.cervinia.it

INFO AND REGISTRATION BY 3 JULY:
Consorzio Cervino Turismo, info@breuil-cervinia.it - tel: 0166.940986

PROGRAM: Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche from 10 - 19 July 2015.

Friday, July 10. The celebrations begin on the weekend preceding the anniversary, within the program of the Festival Torino e le Alpi. The festivities begin in grand style, with the exhibition of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force aerobatic team that will pay homage to the Matterhorn, the mountain of the Italians. During the day: Open Day with the Mountain Guides (trekking approach to mountaineering; promotional prices, with three different routes and a course, until 19 July). At 22:00 the night lights will illuminate the Matterhorn.

Saturday, July 11, 18:00 opening of the exhibition "Creste e pareti del Cervino. 150 anni di storia alpinistica 1865-2015", by Alessandro Gogna and Alessandra Raggio at the Museum of the Mountain Guides. The exhibition traces 150 years of heroic achievements on the Gran Becca, documenting the climbers and the stories of what they accomplished. Photographs, objects and documents recount the birth, 150 years ago, of the Società Guide del Cervino.
At 21.00 at the Valtournenche Auditorium there is the engaging theatre piece by Livio Viano "The Conquest of the Matterhorn" that will lead the audience, ideally, to the summit.

Sunday, July 12 (every day until 18): "Tutto Color Cervino," cartoon laboratories outdoors, for children and teenagers.

Tuesday, July 14, the anniversary of the first ascent via the Swiss face, is the Day of Silence. The mountain remains symbolically "closed" for climbers (in accordance with Zermatt), as a mark of respect and in memory of the dead of the Whymper group and all those climbers who over the years have lost their lives on the Matterhorn

Thursday, July 16 all night party with "The Nor dou Cervin / The Night of the Matterhorn." This begins with the movie marathon "Matterhorn CineMountain 150" (a thrilling non-stop film night, dedicated to Matterhorn on the silver screen), which lasts all through the night, with a crescendo of historical re-enactments, a touring theatre, folk group performances, music and dance, attempts at traditional sport, tasting sessions and pubs and bars open until late in Breuil-Cervinia.
The biggest musical event that evening is the L’Orage,concert, the Valle d’Aosta group that mixes the traditional music of the western Alps with electronic sounds to create an exciting “mountain rock” sound. A bonfire at midnight at the foot of the Matterhorn will illuminate the start of the anniversary.

Friday, July 17
On the morning of July 17 the Guides of Cervino, Zermatt and Chamonix and some members of the Alpine Club of London will climb the Matterhorn for the Ceremony of friendship on the summit, to share the anniversary of the first ascent from the Italian side. In doing so they will seal a mountaineering history marked by friendship that surpasses all challenges. Don Paolo Papone, parish priest of Valtournenche, will celebrates Mass on the mountain.
Culture and literature are on the agenda as of 16.00 at Valtournenche with "Matterhorn over the top”, during which great journalists and alpinists will discuss the profound human need to share their experiences in the mountains. Mario Calabresi, editor of La Stampa, talks with Reinhold Messner, Hervé Barmasse, Catherine Destivelle and journalist Sandro Filippini. Reinhold Messner will introduce his new book about the Matterhorn and, together with Sandro Filippini, the book "Walter Bonatti, the brother I never knew I had"; Hervé Barmasse will discuss the genesis of his first book "The mountain inside"; Catherine Destivelle will delve into her adventure as publisher; Gérard Ottavio, President of the Cervino Guides, will introduce two new books published on the anniversary of start of the association.
Tales of the Matterhorn begins at 21.00 at the Centro Congressi Billia in Saint-Vincent. Reinhold Messner, Hervé Barmasse, Catherine Destivelle and Simon Anthamatten discuss the figures of Jean-Antoine Carrel and Edward Whymper and 150 years of gripping challenges lived out on the Gran Becca (the Matterhorn). An intense and inspiring evening, conducted by Kay Rush, with live music by the L’Orage.

Saturday, July 18 is "Matterhorn Walking day": philosophical trekking-mountaineering with mountaineers and guides of the Matterhorn. Catherine Destivelle, Hervé Barmasse, Simon Anthamatten "recount, while walking" at the foot of the Matterhorn, together with Kay Rush and outdoor enthusiasts, along simple paths that lead to lunch at Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi all'Oriondé.
The afternoon continues at the Alpini church for the musical version of "The Conquest of the Matterhorn" Livio Viano, with Great Becca as natural scenery.
At 18.00, in the picturesque Hydroelectric CVA Maen, the exhibition "From Châtillon to the Matterhorn on old postcards 1881-1929”. From 22.30, the fireworks show CVA novel "Matterhorn's incredible conquest. Stories, legends, fires" is the highlight of the evening in Breuil-Cervinia.

Sunday, July 19 Mountain running with "Run training Cervino": a morning of free training around the Matterhorn, with skyrunning World Champion Bruno Brunod, Team Forte di Bard and former speed record holder on the Matterhorn. Italian pop singer Irene Grandi will bring to a close the Matterhorn 150 celebrtion, with a great afternoon concert on the shores of Lago Blu.