Chamonix Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a commune of Haute-Savoie, in the Northern Alps, stretched along a valley over sixteen villages and hamlets. Its territory ranges from 995 to 4,806 metres in altitude: it shares with Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and Saint-Véran the record of the commune whose highest point is the highest in France, the summit of Mont Blanc, measured at 4,805.59 metres in 2023.
The story begins in 1091, when a count gave the valley to an abbey, which founded a priory there. Chamonix became definitively French on 4 April 1860, with the Treaty of Turin, and took its current name in 1921. In 1924 it hosted the first Winter Olympic Games, an event that established its reputation as an Alpine winter-sports destination.
Today there are several ski areas, but the valley can also be visited in summer. The Aiguille du Midi cable car and the Montenvers train, which climbs to the Mer de Glace, are among the busiest sites. The commune has about 8,700 inhabitants. The Mont Blanc tunnel links the valley to Italy. As lifts have varying opening periods, it is best to check the official website.
