In the late 1960s two astronomical observatories were installed in the two towers of the Kulmhotel Gornergrat.

It is located about three kilometers east of Zermatt in the Swiss canton of Valais.

The Gornergrat is located between the Gornergletscher and Findelgletscher and offers panoramic views of 29 mountains above 4,000 m (13,123 ft), whose highest are Dufourspitze (in the large Monte Rosa massif), Liskamm, Matterhorn, Dom and Weisshorn.

This is the last stop of the Gornergrat train, opened in 1898, which climbs almost 1,500 m (4,900 ft) through Riffelalp and Riffelberg.

At the west side of the Gorner Ridge, nearby the Rotenboden railway station is the peak Riffelhorn (2,928 m (9,606 ft)).