Chamonix Mont-Blanc

In 1741, two Englishmen, William Windham and Richard Pococke, recount in literary gazettes their visit to the valley and their "expedition" to a gigantic glacier which they named the Mer de Glace. The curiosity aroused by their story quickly brought the first tourists who then embarked on what would become mountaineering.

During the year 1760, the wealthy Genevan aristocratHorace-Bénédict de Saussure, promises a large reward to the first person to reach the summit of Mont Blanc. And on August 8, 1786, two Chamoniards,Jacques Balmatand the doctorMichel Paccardachieve this.

In 1770, with the number of tourists increasing, M^meCoutterand opens the firsthostelof the valley: the Hôtel d'Angleterre. In 1783, the number of visitors for the summer season was estimated at 1,500. The Hôtel de l'Union, the first luxury hotel, was built in 1816.

In 1908, the first section of the Montenvers railway was inaugurated. At that time, it took nearly an hour to travel the seven kilometers to reach the Mer de Glace. It was fully opened in 1909, at the same time as the first section of the Mont-Blanc tramway.

The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix in 1924. 2024 will therefore bring many celebrations to mark this centenary and in preparation for the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Gourmet restaurants including 9 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Chamonix Golf Course. Ranked by expert guides as one of the most beautiful mountain courses, it has the distinction of being completely flat. You'll discover excellence in green, white, and blue.

Shopping in town or a simple coffee on a terrace... the choice is yours.

Winter Events 2025/2026

(To come)