Description

One of the few serious contenders for the title of "World's Most Famous Ski Resort", Chamonix Mont Blanc (as the resort prefers to be known) has the world's biggest lift-served skiable vertical drop of 2807 metres (9209 feet), one of the world's longest runs through the Vallée Blanche at 22 km (13.7 miles) and staged the World's first Winter Olympics in 1924. Beyond these spectacular statistics is Chamonix's relatively undisputed status as the world's tough mountain sports capital, the subject of endless ski magazine reports each season from editors wishing to prove they descended between the glacial crevasses and lived to tell the tale! For lesser mortals there are plenty of on-piste kilometres to soak up, all dominated by the spectacular scenery of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak (and Europe's second highest after Mt Elbrus in Russia, although some dispute whether Elbrus is in Europe). Chamonix's history has been traced to Bronze Age times and its current status was confirmed in a report as far back as 1751 when the locals were described as "the most uncompromising men in Europe". Ten years before that Englishmen William Windham and Richard Pococke had been on the first recorded tourist trip, reaching the Mer de Glace. The first skis in the valley were spotted in 1893 and by 1907 one of the world first cable cars, 'Les Glaciers' was in operation (since removed). Six more were to follow between 1927 and 1963. The Mont Blanc Tunnel opened a few years later ensuring first rate access infrastructure in to the future. Chamonix Mont Blanc itself is a lively town with its own character, not just one created every winter season and reinvented every summer. That character reflects the attitude of its residents and of most visitors - a true love of the mountains.

Travelling to Chamonix - Mont Blanc

Chamonix is one of the easiest resorts in the Alps to reach; despite its high altitude skiing the resort itself is not terribly high and it is located close to the famous Mont Blanc Tunnel (11km / 7 miles long) in to Italy so there is a four lane road (the Autoroute Blanche) running right up to the town which is always well maintained. The main down side of the drive from the north is the high tolls on the spectacular final section of motorway. Access from Italy is via the tunnel or the drive from Paris takes around 6 hours. The resort also boasts probably the best rail connections of any ski resort outside Japan, with a TGV high speed link via Saint Gervais travelling at around 170 mph (270 kph). It's possible to catch the TGV 'Snow Special' in Paris on a Friday evening and be in the resort at just after 11pm. There are bus and rail connections from Geneva, although the resort does not recommend the rail connections as they are poor. Geneva is also the closest international airport, only 88 km (55 miles) north west of Chamonix, a 90 minute drive.

Weather

Conditions for Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FR at 7:00 am CEST

Current Conditions:
Unknown, 3 C

Forecast:
Sat - Sunny. High: 25 Low: 9
Sun - Sunny. High: 26 Low: 12

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Skiing The Vallee Blanche
Chamonix dot com
Trip Advisor - Restaurants
Trip Advisor - Things to Do
Trip Advisor - Where to stay
Chamonix Wikipedia Mobile
Virtual Tourist - Chamonix Mt Blanc
Detailed Chamonix Weather

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Database and compilation (c) Snow24 plc 2009-11, Database Right: Snow24 plc 2009-11.