| Situated in a spectacular valley in the French Alps and | | | | during the Peak season but during off peak seasons |
| close to Europes highest peak, in the shadow of | | | | there are other highly used features such as the |
| Mount Blanc, is the town Chamonix. Chamonix is a | | | | casino, cinema complex, sports center and |
| popular tourist resort for skiers and snowboarders | | | | prosperous nightlife to entertain the visitors. There is |
| who flock to the resort from all over the world. It is | | | | also a local alpine museum in the village which offers |
| also one of the oldest ski resorts offering 76 slopes. | | | | information about the history of mountaineering in |
| The ski season in Chamonix begins in November and | | | | the region. |
| ends in April. During the off season tourists visit | | | | Mountain Sports |
| Chamonix to enjoy the beautiful scenery, hiking and | | | | Winter sports are extremely popular in Chamonix as |
| planning ascents of Mount Blanc. | | | | this region has some of the most popular runs in the |
| The Geography of Chamonix | | | | world. A cable car runs up to the Aiguille du Midi, |
| The mountain resort Chamonix Mont Blanc is located | | | | which reaches a height of 3842 meters. In 1955, |
| at 45degrees North (longitude) and 6 degrees East | | | | when it was first constructed, it used to be the |
| (latitude). The main valley in this resort runs from the | | | | heighest cable run in the world. As previously |
| northeast to the southwest where it rises | | | | mentioned, during the off peak season, Chamonix is |
| significantly in Le Tour. The summit of Mont Blanc | | | | an extraordinary and beautiful place for |
| rises in the southeast, but most often than not, the | | | | mountaineering. A major challenge is the north face |
| peak is not clearly visible due to the persistent cloud | | | | of the Dru, the Frendo spur on the Aiguille du Midi |
| cover. The famous Aiguilles Rouges is located on the | | | | and if these are too challenging then an easier option |
| opposite side of Mont Blanc in the northwest. Along | | | | is to climb to the summit of Mont Blanc, which can be |
| the foot of the valley are a number of small villages | | | | reached through several routes. Mountain bikes are |
| and scattered hamlets that belong to the commune | | | | also a popular sport during off-peak season as there |
| including Les Bossons and Les Praz. | | | | are many hidden single tracks that, most often than |
| History | | | | not, can only be found with the help of a guide. |
| Chamonix is most famously known as the first ski | | | | Shopping, Food and Drink |
| resort to host the winter Olympics, which was held in | | | | If you like ski fashion, then Chamonix offers plenty |
| 1924 and also contains the highest ski jump in the | | | | of shops which cater for exactly that and also allow |
| world, at 9,200 feet. During the nineteenth Century | | | | you to purchase equipment and rent equipment. |
| many luxury hotels were built on the mountains and | | | | There is also a wide range of shops in Chamonix |
| around 1901 a railway system arrived which brought | | | | such as opticians food markets, shoe shops, |
| tourists to the area. Around the late 19th Century on, | | | | souvenirs and home wares. Beautiful alpine |
| tourist expansion was primarily liberated by national | | | | restaurants are popular for eating out, followed up by |
| and international initiatives rather than local capitalists. | | | | a dance in a hotel bar or in one of several late night |
| Although this was the case, the community of | | | | clubs offering cocktails, beer, wines and spirits to |
| Chamonix was deeply dependent on an influx of | | | | cater everyones needs. |
| tourists in order to sustain their community. By the | | | | Accommodation |
| 1960s there was a drastic reduction in agriculture and | | | | There is a wide range of accommodation to suit |
| a dramatic increase in the number of beds in the | | | | everyones needs in Chamonix, including alpine lodges, |
| resort, approximately 60,000 and by the end of the | | | | luxury hotels, apartments, resorts and guesthouses. |
| 20th century there are an estimated 5 million visitors | | | | There are approximately 10,000 beds in the resort |
| annually. | | | | therefore accommodation is always plentiful but book |
| Site seeing in Chamonix | | | | early as peak season can get busy. Geneva |
| The most famously visited feature of Chamonix is | | | | International Airport is where the majority of |
| Mont Blanc, standing at 15,700 feet. Tourists are able | | | | International visitors will almost certainly arrive at. |
| to travel to an adjacent peak, by gondola, to view | | | | Here, car hiring is an option, where you can drive the |
| the beautiful scenery of the mountain range. | | | | remaining journey or catch a connecting bus or train |
| Chamonix obtains the highest number of tourists | | | | for the remaining 50 miles to Chamonix. |