| Nestling in the shadow of Mont Blanc - Europe's | | | | first up the mountain to carve their tracks in the |
| highest mountain at 4807m -Chamonix lives and | | | | snow; but now Chamonix attracts a far more |
| breathes mountain history. Chamonix has long | | | | eclectic crowd. You're just as likely to find Channel |
| been hailed as a mecca for climbing and | | | | opening up opposite a local climbing shop as the |
| mountaineering with bearded mountain men in de | | | | local spit and sawdust transforming into a swanky |
| rigour battered alpine gear seen striding around | | | | bistro. That's not to say smoky local French bars |
| town and regaling unfortunate listeners with tales | | | | crammed to the rafters with burly mountaineers |
| of leaping crevasses, dodging rock falls and | | | | aren't to be found, it's just that now they're |
| climbing peaks. There's Mont Blanc to be | | | | jostling for attention from a mixed clientele. |
| summated, the north face of Les Drus to be | | | | There are an enormous array of activities for the |
| tackled and Les Grands Jorasses to inspire. | | | | visitor enjoy. With an impressive sports and |
| Indeed, Chamonix first came to prominence as a | | | | swimming complex, beauty salons, spas, golf, ice |
| summer tourist destination in the 19th century | | | | rink, cross country skiing, paragliding, husky |
| and the first cable car opened at Le Brevant | | | | sledding, guided snowshoeing, cinema, museum, |
| for summer walkers. | | | | casino and weekly market with fresh local |
| Now Chamonix is just as famous for its winter | | | | produce; and a plethora of shops, designer |
| activities as one of the most challenging ski | | | | boutiques, bars, restaurants, terraced cafés and |
| resorts in the world including the world famous | | | | night-clubs, Chamonix offers a combination of |
| Vallee Blanche - Chamonix's most well known | | | | skiing, old town charm, après ski and shopping, |
| off piste adventure. Starting from the Aigille du | | | | which few resorts can match. |
| Midi -one of the most visited and stunning | | | | There are also plenty of options when it comes |
| panoramic view points in the world - and with | | | | to dining out. All tastes and budgets are catered |
| the services of a guide, you can ski an | | | | for from the obligatory burgers at Poco Loco, to |
| uninterrupted 22km past blue ice formations, | | | | traditional savoyarde fondues at L'Atmosphere |
| yawning crevasses and tumbling glaciers. A 2.8 km | | | | and nine course gastronomic delights at the two |
| vertical descent through some of the most | | | | stra Michelin Albert Premier. Or, within 20 minutes, |
| amazing alpine scenery. Then of course there's | | | | you can nip under the Mont Blanc Massif through |
| Les Grands Montets with its legendary off piste | | | | the Tunnel Du Mont Blanc and arrive in |
| and glacial variants, the Aiguilles Rouges and the | | | | Courmayeur in Italy with it's own very special |
| Pas De Chevre. | | | | regional varieties. And, if you tire of ski gear |
| But perhaps Chamonix's reputation now deserves | | | | shops, salami and penknives then Annecy is a |
| a rethink. Sure, there's still a bewildering variety of | | | | mere hour away - the Venice of the Alps - with |
| ever more extreme sports to attempt, new | | | | its beautiful old town and glistening lake. And did I |
| routes to climb, fresh couloirs to ski, but | | | | mention the shops? |
| Chamonix combines its internationally renowned | | | | This is without mentioning the stunning high |
| ski area with an elegant, cosmopolitan and bustling | | | | mountain scenery: the tumbling glaciers, soaring |
| town centre. With its cobbled streets, majestic old | | | | Aiguilles, one of Europe's highest cable cars - the |
| buildings, rich heritage and open squares Chamonix | | | | Aiguille du Midi at 3842m - the Mer De Glace, the |
| is much more than just another ski resort and | | | | Merlet wildlife park and arbre adventure for kids |
| has kept much of its original mountain charm and | | | | and families and a beautiful alpine town and |
| retains a very French , very friendly and very | | | | traditional mountain villages and hamlets dotted |
| alpine atmosphere. Indeed, Chamonix is quietly | | | | along the Chamonix valley. Whether you are |
| transforming from an enclave of wizened climbers | | | | looking for a skiing or snowboarding holiday in |
| and skiers into a much more international, elegant | | | | Chamonix, or an alpine summer holiday with |
| and varied resort. | | | | mountain biking, canyoning, hiking, climbing and |
| Yes, the climbers still flock to Chamonix in the | | | | more Chamonix has the answers. |
| summer and unwashed skiers bustle to be the | | | | |