Chamonix is a small quaint town situated in heart of the French Alps in close proximity to Switzerland and Italy. Away from bustling tourist places of France, surrounded by undeniable spectacular views of snow capped Alps, Chamonix has a unique charm that resonates warm European touch even in harshest of the cold.
Of all the beautiful things Chamonix homes, I was particularly interested in visiting the ‘Monarch of the the Alps’- Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.
Aiguille du Midi
On our arrival day, we took the Aiguille du Midi cable car which goes till height of approximately 4810m. Once atop, we were welcomed by sun, snow and the clouds to the imposing scenic panoramic views of Swizz, French and Italian Alps.
Step into the Void
The Aiguille du Midi Skywalk, “Step into the Void”, is a tourist attraction owned and operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc. It opened to the public on 21 December 2013 and can be accessed for free with a lift pass to Chamonix-Aiguille du Midi.
The “Step into the Void” is a glass room with a glass floor, situated off the uppermost terrace of the Aiguille du Midi at an altitude of 3842 metres. It claims to be “the highest attraction in Europe”.
Three glass walls, the glass floor and glass ceiling panels, allow the visitor a unique experience enhanced by 1000 meters of free air directly under their feet, in total safety! Look around and admire the highest peaks in Western Europe, and view the Bossons Glacier – with the greatest descent in Europe (4810m – 1440m), from a dramatic perspective!
Snow sports
The town is renowned for winter sports, and there is a wide choice of skiing areas. Most pistes are over 2000 m altitude so winter snow is as reliable here as it can be anywhere. (only from November to April and beginning of May)
Three ski areas can be accessed directly from Chamonix: Brevent, La Flégère and Vallée Blanche. There are no pistes connecting them, but buses run along the valley between the base cable car stations. Other extensive areas are Les Houches lower down the valley, and Grand Montets and Le Tour / Vallorcine higher up. The “Mont Blanc” ski pass is valid for a total of 700 km of pistes, including the neighbouring valleys as well as Courmayeur in Italy.
In the town
Back to the town, most of streets open up to undeniable spectacular view of Mont Blanc, some streets have dramatic views of river Arve and other streets are equally mesmerizing.
Look up, admire and then get your breath back!
Come and see the most beautiful sights, have unforgettable experiences, and take the time to discover the gems in our Valley!
Shopping
The town itself has a lovely collection of sporting, alpine and local shops. (including some fleece shirts for as little as €8, that’s 2 for 16!). The best place for shopping is the Main Street, Rue du Docteur Paccard.
Food and dining
It’s France. The food is all good, though it can be quite expensive in the touristy places. Open a can of Ravioli from the supermarket and eat it with your freshly purchased Swiss Army Knife. If you’ve been hiking all day, it’ll be the best meal you’ve ever had.
Other regional specialties include-
- Fondue
- Pierrade or Pierre chaude – a hot piece of slate on which you cook your own slices of meat at the table.
- Raclette – like fondue, this is a multi-person event that involves more melted cheese, potatoes and cold cuts.
- Croute savoyarde – a toasted piece of bread soaked in white wine and then baked with melted cheese and possibly mushrooms or tomatoes.
- Tartiflette – potatoes and bacon smothered with melted roblochon cheese.
For all the stunning beauty of the mountains, downtown Chamonix hums with life. Streets are lined with Michelin-starred restaurants, sports gear stores and some of the French Alps’ fanciest hotels.
Pack your bags and get ready to go to Chamonix….
Hope to see you soon…..
Measure the Earth with your feet!! 