Chamonix is not limited to the double title of "world capital of mountaineering" in summer and "Queen of extreme skiing" in winter. Because there are a thousand ways to play the game here, the seasons, at their own pace and according to their desires, with or without moderation ...
The Chamonix valley is the third most visited natural site in the world: 38 000 hectares of nature reserve, 18 000 hectares of classified sites. Mont Blanc, with an altitude of 4808 meters, is the highest mountain in Europe.
Chamonix has developed under the influence of tourism has grown in terms of various architectural styles and periods. This specificity has provided the city with a rich and diverse heritage, tradition and modernity. Over the walks, we find churches and Protestant chapels dating back several centuries, hotels and palaces of the "golden age" fronts "Art Deco" type, traditional farms, huge villas, chalets contrasting or modern buildings.
The city is made up of different architectural layers that give it originality and variety unclassifiable for an urban mountain.
The 350 km of superbly maintained hiking trails that run through the valley invite you to discover more than 160 routes for each.
Walking in the valley in the smells of pine, take some altitude and taste the blueberries in a grandiose setting or collecting uneven ...
A few essentials:
- The Tour du Mont -Blanc : this great classic performed for the first time in 1767 by the famous Horace Benedict de Saussure to discover all the mountainous landscapes of the region, meadows, glaciers, passes , air paths. This ride lasts 7 to 10 days, with an average of 5 hours of walking daily and 800 to 1000 m in altitude , and crosses three countries, France , Italy and Switzerland.
- White Lake : inside the Natural Reserve of the Red Needles , one of the most beautiful mountain lakes, famous for its unique panorama facing the Mont -Blanc - 1:45 to / - Vertical drop 500 m
- The Grand Balcony North : Crossing on the north side , at the foot of the Aiguilles de Chamonix , connecting the two most famous Chamonix valley sites. The points of departure and arrival are served by lifts - duration 2:15
- Le Chalet des Pyramids : site with a splendid view of the fall of the Bossons glacier , the crevasses and ice pyramids .
- Le Paradis des Praz : 10 minutes from Praz - A little paradise for children and older children, with a small sitting " beach " , games, and refreshments to cool .
Excursions through the lifts :
Aiguille du Midi ( 3842 m) cable car: From the center of Chamonix, 1035 m, the Aiguille du Midi takes you to the gates of the High Mountain at 3842 m. A unique 360 ° panorama of the peaks of the Mont Blanc.
Montenvers train to Mer de Glace: the famous rack railway , from Chamonix takes you to the Montenvers site at 1913 m. A panorama of the glacier Mer de Glace , the Dru and the Grandes Jorasses .
Brevent cable car: From Chamonix to Le Brevent , 2525 m, you will discover the south side and large on the Mont -Blanc panorama.
Flégère cable car : From the village of Praz, 1894 m, you will discover the south side and large on the Mont -Blanc panorama. Starting point of great classic hikes to beautiful mountain lakes.
Le Tour - Charamillon cable car : From the village of Le Tour or the Vallorcine gondola Charamillon and Balme and the Autannes chairlift , 2185 m, take you to a place of leisure and nature in the pastures , and a point of view different in the Chamonix valley and the Mont Blanc.
Grands Montets cable car : From the village of Argentiere , cable Lognan , 1972 m, and the Grands Montets , 3300 m, take you to the edge of a rugged high mountain at the foot of the Aiguille Verte , a unique viewpoint on the Argentiere glacier basin , overlooking the Dru , the Aiguille Rouge and Mont Blanc.
Bossons Chairlift : Departure Bossons , the chairlift takes you to 1400m , near the Bossons glacier with stunning views of the crevasses .
Access to the chalet snack bar and its theme trail on the history of the glacier base for hiking the Pyramids ( 1:15 ) and Junction ( 4:00 ) .
Chamonix Mont-Blanc ski area are four altitude and four ski areas of the valley bottom.
Discover: enchainer the descent from the summit of the Grands Montets to Argentiere village , 3000 meters is exceptional and unforgettable descent !
Stations connected: Vallorcine - The Tower / La Flegère - The Brevent
Altitude area : Balme ( 1453 m - 2270 m)
Alpine skiing : 19 tracks including 1 black , 7 red and 11 blue
In an alpine atmosphere to villages Tour and Vallorcine , Domaine de Balme offers multiple ski on two distinct slopes. On Charamillon , enjoy wide slopes gently against the Chamonix valley , while the Vallorcine side, ski in the trees at the threshold of the Swiss border .
Altitude range : Les Grands Montets (1235 m - 3300 m)
Alpine skiing : 16 tracks including 6 black, 4 red , 5 blue , 1 green
The runs on three sides ( the Argentiere glacier Lognan and during ) offer choices multiple tracks and spectacular off-piste. Skiing or snowboarding , you can drag near a glacier and enjoy excellent snow until May. For freestylers , a new snowpark and boardercross are open on the field Lognan .
Altitude range : Brevent - Flegère (1030 - 2525 m)
Alpine skiing : 33 tracks including 5 blacks , 9 red , 13 blue , 6 green
These two domains connected by a cable car from 1997 is one of the most beautiful places in the Alps. Facing south , it invites you to enjoy a variety of facing the Mont -Blanc chain tracks. You can make the colors in a beautiful setting and ski slopes that meet the requirements of all categories of skiers.
Altitude range : Les Houches (950 m - 1900 m )
Alpine skiing : 23 trails , 2 black , 11 red, 7 blue, 3 green
The approaches outlined in the forest can discover all the pleasures of skiing.
The snowmaking : With 110 snow cannons , 23 hectares are artificially snow .
Field ground level: The Plannards ( 1062 m - 1242 m)
Alpine skiing : 1 red track, 1 blue , 2 green
Two minutes from the city center , the four tracks form the largest area of the valley for beginners and children. The 41 snow canons ensure snow all winter. Bar- restaurant, solarium , free parking.
Field ground level: The Vormaine ( 1480 m )
Alpine skiing : 3 tracks , 1 blue and 2 green
Located at the foot of Charamillon the Balme area , this very sunny space is the ideal playground for learner skiers and snowboarders as well as for toddlers ( kindergarten ) .
Field ground level: The Plannards (1230 m)
Alpine skiing : 4 tracks , 1 red, 1 blue and 2 green
This charming stage for beginners, ideal for children , is located 500 meters from the start of Lognan .
Field ground level: The Savoy ( 1049 m)
Alpine skiing : 3 tracks , 1 blue and 2 green
In the heart of Chamonix, at the foot of Brevent , two lifts and a rolling carpet welcome beginners and children for their first turns . Snowmaking and kindergarten.
Cross-country skiing : 40 km of cross-country trails
Other snow activities : Snowshoeing, Skiing Joering , Huskies , off piste skiing , Ski Taxi .
The ski areas and ski lifts : www.compagniedumontblanc.com ( online booking for your ski passes, ski map , webcams, openings of slopes and lifts , weather, ... )
The ski area Plannards : www.plannards.com
House guides www.cieguides - chamonix.com
Cham'Aventure , the reference of the outdoor valley : www.cham - aventures.com
Chamonix Experience , study guides: www.chamex.com
International Association of Girl Guides of Mont Blanc du www.guides montblanc.com
French Ski School Chamonix : www.esfchamonix.com
French Ski School Argentiere : www.esf- argentiere.com
Evolution 2 ski school and surf : www.evolution2 - chamonix.com
Yak & Yeti services , multi- agency activities , all services: www.yak - yeti.com
Ski Sensations , ski school and surf : www.ski- sensations.com
To see ...
the Alpine Museum
Exposure Tairraz the center ,
barroques the churches including the Argentiere
the cave of the sea ice
Observatory of Mont Blanc ,
home of the mountain,
Nature Reserve Red Needles : reliefs and spectacular accented staging flora characterize the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve . Moraines of the glacier , a multitude of plants have adapted to the extreme conditions of life. This austere world is " softened " by the lakes, contemplated by thousands of hikers ...
Nature reserves are valuable to protect places . Here are some rules:
. do not pick the flowers so that those who come after you can contemplate .
. even dogs on leash are allowed in order to ensure the tranquility of wildlife.
. Stay on the trails , the territory of the man in the middle of the animals.
More information about www.asters.asso.fr
Le Tour | Montroc |
Le PLanet | Argentière |
Les Chosalets | Le Lavancher |
Les Tines | Les Bois |
Les Praz de Chamonix | Les Pècles |
Chamonix Mont-blanc | Les Mouilles |
Les Barrats | Les Pélerins |
Les Gaillands | Les Bossons |