View of the Aiguille du Midi in the summer
Before heading
to the very south of France, let’s take some time to enjoy and appreciate the
beauty of the French Alps. And what a better place to do so than stopping by
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the French capital of alpinism? Very well known in the
mountain sports milieu, Chamonix became more and more famous after holding the
first ever Winter Olympic Games in 1924. The town of Chamonix is located right
at the foot of Mont-Blanc, the highest summit in Europe (15,780 ft.) and offers
a breathtaking view from the valley. In 1786, Jacques Balmat, from Chamonix,
completed the first ascent of Mont-Blanc. Chamonix is one of the best mountain
resorts in the world and there are so many things to do year round! Warning
though, if you are afraid of height, close your eyes or pass around! Whenever you
are ready (mostly to wait in line for hours), step in the cable car that
will bring you 12,605 ft. above the ground in just a few minutes at the Aiguille du Midi. The view at
the top is unbelievable! You feel so close to Mont-Blanc that you could almost
touch it and the town of Chamonix deep in the valley looks ridiculously tiny. Stand
by and get in the funicular to access the Mer de Glace. The trip itself is very
typical and you feel like time traveling in the good old days of Savoy. The bravest ones should do the hike to get there, a bit longer (couple hours) and way more
rewarding (you'll get to see wild life like never before). Since it’s the winter
and if you are lucky enough, you should ski there and admire a view that you
will never forget!
View of Chamonix in the valley, and Mont-Blanc mountain range in the winter
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