Chamonix ski resort. Open left menu Chamonix. Alpine skiing in Chamonix

Chamonix is oldest resort, located in French Alps. It lies at the very foot of Mont Blanc. Chamonix is a long valley and a popular holiday destination in Western Europe.

Skiing first appeared here in 1893. The first Winter Olympics were held here in 1924.

Currently, this holiday destination has an ideal reputation. The dream of many skiers is skiing on the slopes of Chamonix.

The geographical position of the valley is such that you can ride while in France, Italy (Courmayeur resort) or Switzerland (Vallorcine). Chamonix is spread out from settlement Les Houches to the miniature town of Argentiere.

What attracts the resort of Chamonix

The famous resort is a paradise for fans of mountaineering and skiing.

In the Chamonix Valley you can see magnificent landscapes that amaze with their natural beauty. Here is the most high point in Western Europe - mountain range Mont Blanc, which looks impressive and severe.

Chamonix has an ideal reputation among skiers.

The mountain slopes guarantee optimal conditions for skiing:

There is perfect snow cover throughout the entire winter season.
The resort has over 3,000 hectares of prepared slopes and more than 150 km of good trails that are suitable for beginners and experienced skiers.
There are steep and undulating slopes, pistes for leisurely skiing, and all the conditions for off-piste skiing.

How to get there

It’s quite easy to get to the resort by leaving the capital any European country. Chamonix is at the crossroads of Switzerland and Italy.

Air. Planes arrive in this city from Geneva, Paris, Lyon.
Railway. Chamonix has a train station where trains from Paris arrive.
Auto. European motorways run through the central part of the valley, so you can travel to the resort by car.

Location of Chamonix on the map of France

View the location of the ski resort on the map:

Local Attractions

Chamonix is divided into five ski areas, which are connected to each other and the resort center by bus:

Log,
Grand Mont,
Vallee Blanche,
Le Flefer
Le Tour.

The most popular area is the Gran Monte, whose slopes and fields are suitable for off-piste skiing. The life of the resort is not limited only to skiing. Evening entertainment here is rich and varied. In the center of the valley there is entertainment center, casinos, restaurants, shops, bars and cafes.

Chamonix is the ideal destination for those who have a passion for the mountains.

Chamonix is an ideal place for those who have a passion for the mountains: skiing, hiking, tennis, mountaineering, rock climbing, golf courses - this popular types leisure at the resort.

If you are interested in historical sights, then it is worth a visit Alpine Museum. He talks about the past of the famous valley. There you can get acquainted with the history of skiing and mountaineering, cartography and mineralogy. Among the exhibits there is a wonderful collection of antique lithographs, engravings and posters.
Located in Chamonix Museum House Barberin, which is also of interest to tourists.
Exposition traditional way of life local residents can be seen in mountain museum in Les Houches.
In addition, vacationers are invited Alpine house to Servoz, where exhibits are presented illustrating the everyday life of the population.

PHOTO - Chamonix, France

View of Mont Blanc - Chamonix, France
Ski slopes in Chamonix
Chamonix: Lovers' Chalet Petit Pierre

Chamonix, France: Pic Aiguille du Midi
Peak Aiguille du Midi - Observation deck to Mont Blanc

Apartments in Chamonix

The resort has a huge selection of accommodation - from five-star hotels to cozy chalets.

You can experience the alpine atmosphere at Chalet Tradition.
The best chalet for couples is Petit Pierre.
Among the hotels, the five-star Hôtel Le Hameau Albert stands out.
For those who want to contemplate the beauty of Mont Blanc, Auberge du Bois Prin is suitable.

There are many other hotels in the valley that differ in star rating, range of services and location.

Weather in Chamonix

The resort has a big advantage over others - a long ski season. The resort is surrounded by mountain slopes that form a kind of ring around it. Therefore, a temperate climate with high humidity prevails here.

Winter. In winter, the temperature usually does not rise above zero. At the height and in the valley the air temperature is different. In the mountains there are frosts of about -12 degrees. In rare cases, the temperature drops to -20.

Summer. The weather in Chamonix is predominantly sunny. In summer it is warm here: from +18 to +20 degrees. High in the mountains the temperature is 5 degrees higher.

The favorable season for skiers lasts from the beginning of winter until last days Martha. In the highlands the season lasts until mid-May.

Summer rest

During the warm season, the resort offers tourists a lot of interesting activities:

Vacationers enjoy rock climbing.
During the summer, the valley hosts exciting international festivals. For example, adventure, gastronomic, organ music, jazz festivals, etc.
Mountain biker competitions are of interest.

During the summer months, the resort can experience intense leisure: golf, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, etc. During the day you can swim in the lakes, and in the evening enjoy relaxing on the terrace of the restaurant.

A popular ski area, Balm, is almost entirely occupied by cyclists.

Chamonix has a skate park, which is part of the municipal program to develop sports infrastructure.

Lovers thrills can go riverboarding.

If you want to relaxing holiday, then this is also possible. Romantic evenings hiking and educational excursions - such leisure activities are suitable for many married couples.

Highest point: 3,300 m
Lowest point: 1,008 m
Length of trails: 170 km
Difficulty categories and number of trails: black - 21, red - 32, blue - 34, green - 13
Average winter temperature: -6.7°C
Number of rope tows - 12, funiculars - 7, chairlifts and cable cars - 22
Cost of ski-pass without Aiguille du Midi: adults up to 59 years old: 38 €/1 day, 190 €/6 days; children (4-15 years old) and pensioners: 30 €/1 day, 152 €/6 days
The cost of ski-pass to Mount Aiguille du Midi is 10 €/1 day.
Season duration: lower slopes: December-March; glaciers: December - mid-May.

The oldest alpine resort in France, Chamonix (Chamonix) is located in the southeast of the Haute-Savoie department in a valley at the foot of the highest peak Western Europe Mont Blanc mountains.

The first mention of Chamonix in historical documents dates back to 1091. Until the beginning of the 20th century. the main occupation of the population remained Agriculture. A decisive turn in its history came in 1906-1907 with the official opening of the winter resort.

The Winter Olympic Games, held for the first time in Chamonix in 1924, brought the city the laurels of the ski capital of the world. The rapid development of the resort in the second half of the 20th century. made it one of the leaders in the development of alpine skiing, which is visited annually by up to 5 million people.

The mountain slopes around the resort are divided into several ski areas. From the center of Chamonix to the top of the Aiguille du Midi mountain (3842m) there is a line of the highest European funicular. From here begins a grandiose 22 km descent along the famous White Valley through the Jean, Tocoul and La Mer de Glace glaciers. Near the highway there is the legendary Ice Sea cafe and unusual Museum ice.

The area of Les Bossons is occupied by the glacier of the same name. It is notable for its Olympic slalom courses and illuminated slopes in the evening, 2.5 km long. North of Chamonix there is the Le Grand-Monte ski area, part of which is occupied by the Argentiere and Lognan glaciers. This is where the steep and challenging Grands Montets, Piste des Pylones Pointe de Vue and Pylones trails are located, up to 8 km long and with an elevation difference of up to 2070 m.

At an altitude of 1,900 m, on the southern side of the resort there is the La Flègere plateau, which occupies the Brevin-Flégère region. This part of the resort presents the full range of difficulty of the trails with a height difference of about 1400 m, interesting areas for moguls and off-piste skiing. In its upper part there is a snowboarding center.

Located near the Swiss border, the Le Tour - Vallorcine - Col de Balme region has relatively simple ski slopes and suitable for beginners. In the flat part of the valley in the south-west of the resort there is the Les Houches area, along which there are 20 easy trails with a height difference of 1871-1008 m. The famous Kandhar Cup track and the Mont Blanc tram route are also located here.

A snow park with a highpipe and a border cross-country track is located in the Lognan-Le-Grand-Monte area. There are also 42 km of cross-country ski trails throughout the resort.

Indoor Olympic skating rink, climbing wall, swimming pool, paragliding and bowling clubs, billiards and bridge, tennis and squash courts, GYM's O'Lympide sports center and hiking contribute big variety during an active holiday at the resort. Many unusual events in Chamonix and its suburbs take place in July during the traditional International Mountaineering and Climbing Festival.

How to get there

Address: Chamonix Mont Blanc, Chamonix Mont Blanc
Website: www.chamonix.com
Updated: 08/08/2018

Ski resorts France
Chamonix (Chamonix).

Chamonix: about the resort

Chamonix is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and France. It was here that the first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924. Chamonix is one of best resorts for freeriders and confident skiers, suitable for lovers of different slopes, this resort is recommended for connoisseurs of apres-ski and historical resorts. Beginners will not feel very comfortable in Chamonix - the ski area for beginners is small and located below, near the resort, where the snow is not in the best condition.

Official website of the resort: www.chamonix.com
Chamonix piste maps: http://www.chamonix.com/plans,14,fr.html
Website in Russian: http://chamonix-montblanc.ru

Recommended: confident skiers, freeriders, non-skiers, lovers of luxury accommodation and apres-ski, tourists who want to combine excursions and skiing.
Not recommended: for beginners, those who are looking for a large connected ski area and the opportunity to ski “to the door”.

Pros:
- One of the oldest and beautiful resorts Alps
- A variety of interesting landscapes.
- Moderate level of prices for accommodation.
- Lots of entertainment for non-riders.
- Excellent opportunities for freeride and expert riding.
- Good opportunities for excursions.

Minuses:
- There is no single (for the entire valley) lift system.
- Old lifts in many ski areas, queues are possible.
- Heavy traffic.
- Expensive ski passes.
- Skiing down to the hotel/apartment is almost impossible.
- The roads leading to the resort are usually not in the best condition.

Chamonix: trails and facts

106 tracks: 14% green, 34% blue, 38% red and 14% black, for a total of about 120 km of trails.
Longest route: about 19 km.
Ski area area: 308 hectares
Lifts: 20 cabins, 27 chairs, 18 rope tows.
Highest point of the ski area: 3275 m (Grand Monte)
Height difference: 2023 meters (from Grand Monte to Argentiere)
Snow cannons: 96
Glacier skiing: White Valley (Vallee Blanche), which begins below the top of the ski lift at Aiguille du Midi - best route for freeride. There are no prepared trails in this sector. Guided skiing is recommended.

Chamonix is beautiful at any time of the day, but what amazes the most is the evening city during Christmas and New Year. Chamonix welcomes guests with myriads of lights, clean air and an indescribable smell of anticipation of the holiday.

This city is so old, comfortable and cozy. However, what else can you expect from a ski resort with a 200-year history!

Chamonix is embraced by mountains on all sides - it is difficult to find a place from which one of the peaks is not visible. The most majestic view opens from a height of 3842 meters from Aiguille de Midi, which can be reached in 20 minutes by cable car (one of the highest in Europe). What is striking is not only the panorama of mountains, valleys, and glacier that opens up, but also how people could build such a monumental structure at such a great height. And, of course, Chamonix is Mont Blanc: the most high mountain Western Europe is visible from different points of the valley, and especially well from the roads above the resort.

Chamonix: how to get there

By plane

Regular flights from Russia are carried out to the international airports of Geneva, Lyon, Milan, Turin. Charter flights from Russia to the international airports of Grenoble, Chambery, Geneva (www.gva.ch), Lyon (www.lyon.aeroport.fr), Milan and Turin (www.aeroportoditorino.it). The nearest airport is Geneva (1 hour by car, distance - 99 km).

By train

The TGV train from Paris arrives at Le Fayet on Saturdays and Sundays (travel time 5 hours). Next - transfer to the Mont Blanc Express train, line Saint Gervais-Le Fayet-Vallorcine and arrive at the train station in Chamonix. Additional Information: www.voyages-sncf.com

By bus

Daily regular bus service Geneva-Chamonix by SAT (www.sat-montblanc.com). Bus lines with pre-booking tickets: Chamonix Bus (www.chamonix-bus.com), Chamonix Transfer Service (www.chamonix-transfer.com), Cham Express (www.chamexpress.com), Mountain Drop Offs (www.mountaindropoffs. com).

By taxi/by car
The fastest way to get to Chamonix is from Geneva airport - in about 1 hour 40 minutes; from Geneva - 1 hour; from Turin - 2 hours; from Milan - 3 hours; from Lyon - 2 hours; from Paris - 6 hours. By car in Chamonix you need to take the A40 autobahn (in France). When leaving Switzerland, take the highway to Martigny, through the Col de la Forclaz and Col des Montets. From Italy the road goes through the Mont-Blanc tunnel, connecting Courmayeur and Mont Blanc. Information about the Mont-Blanc tunnel is on the website www.atmb.net The following taxi companies are recommended: Abac Taxi (www.abactaxichamonix.com), Chamonix Taxi (www.chamonix-taxi.com), Alp Taxi (www.alp-taxi. com), Taxi Buton (www.taxi-buton.com), Taxi Garny (www.taxy-garny.com), Taxi Servoz (www.taxiservoz.com)

Chamonix ski passes

Ski pass Chamonix le Pass
Ski areas: Brevent-Flegere, Balme, Grands Montets without Lognan-Grands Montets, Les Planards, le Savoy, les Chosalets, la Vormaine For 6 days: 252 euros for adults, 214.60 euros for children 4-15 years old.
For 13 days: 494 euros for adults, 419.90 euros for children.
Discounts on family ski passes: when purchasing two adult ski passes, the 1st child in the family receives a 50% discount, the second rides for free.

Ski pass Mont-Blanc Unlimited:
All Chamonix Le Pass + Aiguille du Midi ski areas, Helbronner connecting cabins, Montenvers train, Courmayeur ski areas and Monte Bianco funicular. A ski pass of 6 days or more includes the opportunity to ski in Verbier (Switzerland).
For 6 days: 299 euros for adults, 254.20 euros for children 4-15 years old.
For 13 days: 540.50 euros for adults, 459.40 euros for children.
Children under 4 years old ride for free (a document confirming the child's age is required).

Chamonix Alpine Skiing

Unlike many French resorts, Chamonix does not have a large integrated ski area; a significant part of the slopes (there are a total of 155 km in Chamonix) are in the areas of Brevent/Flegere, Le Tour and Grands Montets. The first ski area, uniting Brevent and neighboring Flègere, is located directly above the city; here you can find a sufficient number of comfortable slopes for intermediate and confident skiers.

Le Brevent/La Fregele (1095-2525 m)
One of the most beautiful places in the Chamonix Valley is Le Brevent, a peak located on the south side of the valley directly opposite Mont Blanc. This is one of the most popular ski areas among our tourists. It is worth keeping in mind that from the top point of the lift (cabin), from the mark of 2525 meters, only black trails lead. The rest of the ski area is good for intermediate skiers. Le Brevent is also famous for its off-piste skiing and is very popular with snowboarders. However, it’s only a stretch to call Chamonix a resort well suited for snowboarding (if you exclude freeride) - the abundance of narrow trails similar to roads is not very pleasing to “boarders”. Beginners are advised to master the first turns on the training track at the resort itself or go to the neighboring ski areas where there are many green slopes.

Easy and convenient trails for beginners are located in different parts of the valley. These are Volmaire, le Chosalets, les Planards, les Pelerins, le Savoy.

Chamonix also has a huge selection of apres-ski entertainment.

The resort has long been famous for its coffee shops and delicious pastries.

The city has 14 bars, 80 restaurants, more than a hundred shops, 7 discos, cinemas and even a casino. It’s good to come to Chamonix with the whole family, even if 1-2 people are skiing - there is entertainment for everyone. Like most French resorts, Chamonix has special children's clubs for different ages.
The Le Tour area is a good place for beginners and intermediates, and snowboarders will also like it. And for those looking for a thrill, it is better to go to Grand Montets - this is where the world famous area is located, very popular among freeriders. Perhaps, only the White Valley, a famous glacial area with a 20-kilometer freeride route, can boast of greater attraction for experienced skiers. For the unreal, mesmerizing impressions of traveling through the Vallee Blanche, it’s worth coming to Chamonix at least once. White Valley (Vallee Blanche) Climbing the Aiguille de Midi and admiring

beautiful views

, experienced skiers descend the White Valley. This is a 22-kilometer descent along the glacier, without restrictions or markings. Photo: Andrey Kamenev Along the main route in the White Valley you can go down to good weather, and if you follow the tracks, the risk is quite small. But it’s worth keeping in mind that this is a glacier, many of the cracks are covered with snow, and every year several accidents occur on off-piste routes in the White Valley. deaths. To walk along the ridge from the top station of the cable car to the beginning of the descent you will need crampons; it is better to fasten your skis to your backpack. But to see the most

Beautiful places
White Valley, hiring a guide is highly recommended. Lognan/Les Grands Montets One of the most famous ski areas in France is located west of the city at altitudes from 1230 to 3233 meters. This area primarily attracts fans of freeride and off-piste skiing: there are not many areas in Europe that combine such spaciousness, excellent snow quality with a variety of terrain and a height difference of 2100 meters. You can get to Grande Montet from Chamonix by

regular bus(in the morning they are often crowded), car or taxi. Le Tour/Vallorcine (1480-2230 m)- an almost ideal place for family vacation. There are few steep or real trails in this area.

Helpful information
If your arrival is scheduled for the weekend, it is better to stock up on some cash in euros or have bank card. Exchange offices in banks are open from Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings, but the exchange rate is usually worse than in Moscow. There are no problems with ATMs - there are many of them. The ski pass can be purchased either from the tourist office (tel. +33 0450 53 0024) or directly from the ski lifts.

The Chamonix Le Pass (from 1 to 13 days) gives you the opportunity to climb to any point in the valley, except Les Houches and the second phase of Grands Montets. Bus travel from Bossons to Tour is free. For ski passes valid for 10 days or more, a photograph is required.

The Mont-Blanc Unlimited ski pass gives you the opportunity to ski on absolutely any slopes, including the resorts of Les Houches, Courmayeur (Italy) - with a surcharge for a bus of 15 euros, Verbier (Switzerland) - with a surcharge for a bus of 24 euros, and Megève (France) – no extra charge. This ski pass also allows you to use buses in the valley for free and receive a discount when traveling through the Mont Blanc tunnel (14 euros return). This ski pass makes sense for freeriders, as well as those who want not to be limited to one ski area.

Cost in high season: 62 euros for adults, 51 euros for children over 4 years old and seniors (over 65 years old). There are discounts for families with children. Chamonix ski pass price for 6 days: 299 euros/254.20 euros for adults/children. Additional discounts apply to ski passes at the beginning of winter and spring, when purchased online (at least 3 days before the start of skiing). For families with more than 1 child, it makes sense to buy the Chamonix Le Pass, which gives the second and third child the opportunity to ski at no additional cost.

History of Chamonix

The first inn opened in Chamonix in 1770 and became a harbinger of the tourist boom that swept the resort a little later. Chamonix became especially popular after the conquest of Mont Blanc in 1786. Everyone believed that the people here mountain peaks not at all as inaccessible as it seemed before. Romantically minded writers and journalists began to describe the mountains not as a formidable place full of terrible dangers, but as a preserved island of untouched nature. And not only desperate daredevils and adventurers, but also quite respectable tourists flocked to Chamonix. The first hotel was built in Chamonix in 1816, and in the 1900s, three magnificent palace hotels appeared in the valley.

In 1821, the Compagnie des Guides was created - the oldest and largest association of mountain guides in the world. And in 1908, the first mountain (cogwheel) railway, Montenvers Mer de Glace, was inaugurated, bringing tourists to the glacier. Today on this historical railway in 20 minutes you can get from the center of Chamonix to the foot of the Mer de Glace glacier, the largest in France - its length is 7 km and its thickness is 200 m. However, the turning point in the history of Chamonix was the construction of roads and convenient railway connections, which made the valley accessible for guests from all over Europe. Tourists from England, France and other countries began to come to Chamonix to look at Mont Blanc, walk in the mountains and breathe fresh mountain air. In 1866, during the reign of Napoleon III, the first horse-drawn carriages appeared on the village streets, and between St. Gervais Le Fayet (Saint Gervais Le Fayet) and Chamonix was built railway line. With the advent of trains, Chamonix became accessible not only in summer, opening up opportunities for winter sports and recreation. One of the popularizers winter holiday Dr. Payot became the Alps.

The first Winter Olympics took place in Chamonix in 1924, turning the valley into a fashionable and highly popular resort. In subsequent years, many ski lifts appeared on the surrounding slopes. The first were Glacier cable car(now defunct) and Planpraz, then ski lifts began to take tourists to Brevent, Aiguille du Midi and Flegere.

Today, Chamonix is not only a popular tourist resort, but also an important transport point connecting France and Italy thanks to the Mont Blanc tunnel.

Useful addresses and facts:
Chamonix website in Russian
Route planning in France
Maps, distances, cost of travel in France

The Chamonix resort harmoniously combines modern infrastructure with wild and majestic nature. The Chamonix Valley is crowned by the most famous mountain peak Europe - Mont Blanc (4807 m). Chamonix is the most famous and oldest ski resort in Europe. The resort gained worldwide fame in 1924, becoming the venue for the first winter Olympic Games and since then has been the most popular place ski holiday France. Chamonix is located in the center of the valley of the same name, which stretches 16 km from the village of Les Houches to the town of Argentiere. Today's Chamonix is a charming Savoyard-style town with a bustling nightlife in the center and quiet outskirts. The resort is very democratic - families with children and young people feel equally at home here.

The ski resort of Chamonix is located in France, in the Haute-Savoie region. Chamonix is located almost on the border with Italy (11 km) and Switzerland (16 km). The skiing region in France in the resort of Chamonix consists of several stations connected to each other and the city center by ski-buses, free with a subscription.

Le Brevent— the lift to this ski area is located in the city center. Trails of varying difficulty are interconnected and are located on the sunny side. La Fregere- ski area km from the center of Chamonix, connected to Le Brevent by cable car. Lognan Les Grands Montets— long pistes from an altitude of 3300m, a place for off-piste skiing enthusiasts. Le Bosson- 3 km from Chamonix, the pistes are illuminated in the evening.

Trails - 100: for beginners - 10%, average difficulty - 40%, for experienced ones - 30%, difficult trails - 20%.

Review video

Distinctive features

Mer de Glace

Mer de Glace (fr. Mer de Glace- “sea of ice”) is a complex valley glacier in the French Alps, on the northern slope of the Mont Blanc massif. The length of the glacier is 12 km, the area is 33.1 km², the thickness of the ice reaches 400 m. The firn line is at an altitude of 2920 m. The Mer de Glace is formed from four streams of ice and descends into the Chamonix valley to an altitude of 1470 m. water flow flows into the Arv River. The glacier is currently retreating; its area has decreased by more than a quarter over the past 100 years. Mer de Glace is a popular tourist destination, with a cable car running above it from France to Italy via the Aiguille du Midi peak (3842 m).

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