where are the oldest buildings [in the valley

For local hotelier and restauranteur Sandrine Julen – a descendant of one of Zermatt's founding families – the stadels connect her with her heritage. "As a child, I remember walking through the stadels with my grandfather, him telling me the stories of his upbringing. They form a part of our history, and it's a constant reminder that we shall not forget where we came from," she told me.