The highest Alpine Garden in Europe
A silent natural wonder
At 2,800 metres above sea level, right next to Rotenboden station, lies a botanical gem: the highest Alpine Garden in Europe. Here, a quiet spectacle unfolds – rare and resilient alpine flowers putting on their brief summer show. Surrounded by the Matterhorn, Riffelhorn and Riffelsee, you can discover a unique flora that blooms in full splendour for only a few short weeks – from July to mid-August.
What grows here is not just beautiful, but also rare and worthy of protection. Over 100 alpine plant species have adapted to the harsh climate, defying sun, wind and drought. Many of them can scarcely be found at similar altitudes elsewhere. These plants are true survivors – and they deserve our respect.
Discover, marvel, protect
The paths through the Alpine Garden lead you through one of the most species-rich regions in the Swiss Alps. Information boards with QR codes offer fascinating insights into the world of alpine plants – just scan with your phone and learn more.
To help preserve this fragile environment, a few simple but important rules apply:
Stay on the paths – every step off trail can cause damage.
No picking – the plants belong here, not in your rucksack.
Dogs must be kept on a lead, children by the hand.
No rubbish, no footprints – let nature remain as you discovered it.
In doing so, you help protect this delicate natural heritage.
Alpine flowers in your living room? Augmented reality makes it possible
If you miss the bloom or want to revisit it later, you can experience the flowers at any time through Augmented Reality (AR) – no matter where you are. Using your smartphone, digital models of the plants are projected into your real environment. You can view the delicate blossoms in 3D, rotate and explore them – as if you were back on the trail.
Just follow the link, follow the steps – and be amazed.
More than a garden: a place of extremes
The Alpine Garden’s location is just as spectacular as its flora. Nestled beside a BLN site (a Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments), the Gornergrat offers a remarkable combination of panoramic views, plant diversity and geological richness. Several species found here occur nowhere else in Switzerland.
The climate is harsh – and yet surprisingly mild for the altitude. Its south-facing aspect, abundant sunshine and dry conditions challenge the plants to their limits. That’s precisely why species grow here that exist nowhere else at this height – including a larch tree at 2,800 metres.
Even geologists are impressed: the greenstone and alkaline soils allow for the growth of a rare calcareous flora – yet another reason the Alpine Garden is so unique.
Your ticket to the Alpine Garden
The Alpine Garden sits directly beside Rotenboden station. If you’re travelling to the Gornergrat to enjoy the breathtaking panorama, take a moment to stop off at the Alpine Garden along the way. With a return ticket, you can hop on and off at any station freely.
Protecting what matters – together
At Gornergrat Bahn, sustainability is more than just a promise – it’s a lived commitment. That’s why we actively support climate protection through the myclimate “Cause We Care” initiative. With a voluntary contribution, you too can help reduce the CO₂ emissions from your visit.
Every online booking gives you the option to add a CHF 2 donation – it’s pre-selected for your convenience, but you can opt out with a single click.
You can also contribute on-site: during summer, the Alpine Garden features information panels with QR codes where you can make a direct and personal donation – at any amount, easily done as you wander through the flora.
We match your donation – and invest it alongside yours into meaningful mountain projects.
Half of all customer contributions from “Cause We Care” go directly to the Alpine Garden. These funds support maintenance and improvements in visitor management – helping to preserve rare and endangered species.
I care. We care. Cause We Care. For the Gornergrat – now and for the future.
Larches and other high climbers – altitude records in the Alpine Garden
Plants that reach for the sky need more than perseverance – they need extreme adaptation. Above 3,000 metres, even the toughest alpine species struggle: the growing season is short, radiation is intense, and wind and frost leave little room for gentle growth.
Yet nature finds a way. A Saussurea – also found in the Alpine Garden – was discovered in the Himalayas at over 6,400 metres. In Europe, a saxifrage growing on the Dom holds the altitude record at 4,450 metres.
The Gornergrat also surprises: many plant species thrive here at higher altitudes than elsewhere in the Alps. A quiet star among them is the larch. While it grows tall and proud in the valley, at 2,800 metres it survives as a squat, shrub-like form – bent low by the wind, barely knee-high, but brimming with life. A true record-breaker among alpine trees – and a small botanical wonder.
The Alpine Garden at Gornergrat is a one-of-a-kind window into these high-altitude specialists – and an invitation to explore their remarkable survival strategies up close.
Public Guided Tours in the Gornergrat Alpine Garden
Saturday, July 26 & Sunday, July 27, 2025
All interested visitors are warmly invited to explore the Alpine Garden at 2,800 metres above sea level. On both days, there will be opportunities for guided tours and informal exchange with experts.
Free Guided Tours
🕛 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. (Duration: approx. 45 minutes) Botanist and excursion leader Adrian Möhl will guide visitors through the Alpine Garden, explaining how it was recently redesigned and labelled. He will also share insights into the alpine flora and the practical aspects of working at this altitude.
Questions & Exchange
🕚 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Between the tours, Mr. Möhl and students from the University of Bern will be available to answer questions. Plant enthusiasts can gain in-depth knowledge about the unique alpine flora found at the Gornergrat.
Participation is free of charge. We look forward to welcoming all those with an interest in alpine plants.