With the pearly white peaks of the Mont Blanc massif as a sensational backdrop, being an icon comes naturally to Chamonix. First 'discovered' by Brits William Windham and Richard Pococke in 1741, this is the mecca of mountaineering. Its knife-edge peaks, plunging slopes and massive glaciers have enthralled generations of adventurers and thrill-seekers ever since. Its après-ski scene is equally pumping.
Aiguille du MidiVIEWPOINT
A jagged finger of rock soaring above glaciers, snowfields and rocky crags, 8km from the hump of Mont Blanc, the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) is one of Chamonix’ most distinctive geographical features. If you can handle the altitude, the 360-degree views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps from the summit are (quite literally) breathtaking. Year-round, you can float in a cable car from Chamonix to the Aiguille du Midi on the vertiginous Téléphérique de l’Aiguille du Midi (www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk; place de l’Aiguille du Midi).
Le BréventVIEWPOINT
The highest peak on the western side of the Chamonix Valley, Le Brévent (2525m) has tremendous views of the Mont Blanc massif, myriad hiking trails, ledges to paraglide from and the summit restaurant Le Panoramic. Reach it on the Télécabine de Planpraz (www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk), 400m west of the tourist office, and then the Téléphérique du Brévent. Plenty of family-friendly trails begin at Planpraz (2000m).
Mer de GlaceGLACIER
France’s largest glacier, the glistening 200m-deep Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) snakes 7km down on the northern side of Mont Blanc, moving up to 1cm an hour (about 90m a year). The Train du Montenvers (www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk), a picturesque, 5km-long cog railway opened in 1909, links Chamonix' Gare du Montenvers with Montenvers (1913m), from where a cable car takes you down to the glacier and theGrotte de la Mer de Glace , an ice cave whose frozen tunnels and ice sculptures change colour like mood rings.
BUS
From Chamonix bus station , next to the train station, SAT-Mont Blanc (www.sat-montblanc.com)operates five daily buses to/from Geneva airport (one way/return €30/50, 1½ to two hours). Advance bookings only.
TRAIN
The Mont Blanc Express narrow-gauge train trundles from St-Gervais-Le Fayet station, 23km west of Chamonix, to Martigny in Switzerland, stopping in Chamonix en route. There are nine to 12 return trips daily between Chamonix and St-Gervais (€5.50, 45 minutes).
From St-Gervais-Le Fayet, there are trains to major French cities.
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