Thursday September 2nd - 16:35

CHAMONIX.COM - Chamonix valley and Mont-Blanc massif official website

Cham'today

afternoon

morning

Today

min +4°C / max +22°C

Sunny - cool in the morning - mild in the afternoon

Sunrise : 6:55 - Sunset : 20:07

5 day forecast of September 02nd at 08:44

Road conditions

Fayet - Chamonix : normal traffic conditions

Chamonix - Argentière : normal traffic conditions

Col des montets : normal traffic conditions

Tunnel du Mont-Blanc : normal traffic conditions

Detailed information(access to Chamonix - Mont-Blanc Tunnel)

Webcam

webcam list

Lifts in real-time

téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi (3842 m)

Montenvers - Mer de Glace (1913 m)

Planpraz (2000 m) - Brévent (2525 m)

Flégère (1890 m) - Index (2385 m)

Tour - Charamillon (1850 m) - Autannes (2270 m)

Lognan (1975 m) - Grands Montets (3300 m)

Tramway du Mont-Blanc (2372 m)

Detailed information

Special information

Montenvers information

Works to securise the landslide area have been completed. We therefore have the pleasure to announce the reopening of the Montenvers train, as from Thursday, July 1st. The site will be fully open.

Consult the lift information chart.

Snowreport

June 03rd 2010

Ski areas : 0 /8
Slopes : 0 /68
Cross-country skiing : 0 km

Detailed information

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Office de Tourisme ****
Chamonix Mont-Blanc
85, place du Triangle de l'Amitié
BP 25
F-74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc
Tel +33 450 53 00 24
Fax +33 450 53 58 90
info@chamonix.com

Timetable
Everyday
from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Bureau d'Argentière
24, route du village
F-74400 Argentière
Tel +33 450 54 02 14
Fax +33 450 54 06 39
argentiere.info@chamonix.com

Timetable
Everyday
from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
and from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

home > Nature

Chamonix's spectacular natural theatre

Chamonix offers exceptional viewpoints, which can be reached either by use of the lifts or the hiking trails. The different panoramas are situated along the length and breadth of the valley, in the heart of the Mont-Blanc and Aiguilles Rouges mountain ranges. An extraordinary panoramic trip, accessible to all. Just a few minutes cable travel or a few hours on foot for the hardy and you will find yourselves immersed in the beauty of this majestic site.The most beautiful viewpoints

Accessed by lift

Glaciers in the Chamonix Valley

Covering a surface area of 125 km2, the glaciers are omnipresent in the Chamonix valley and contribute to the outstanding beauty of the site. Since time memorial, these ice giants have inspired fear, incredulity and admiration:
« These majestic glaciers, separated by large forests and crowned by granite rocks of an astonishing height, sculptured in the form of huge obelisks and interspersed with snow and ice, represent one of the greatest and most remarkable spectacles that one could possibly imagine ». Horace Benédict de Saussure, extract from his book, Travels through the Alps (1779-1786).

The Bossons glacier

As one arrives in the Chamonix valley, one cannot help being overwhelmed by the Bossons and Mont-Blanc glacier « largest ice fall in Europe » ! The glacier has a long history and it was on it's flanks that man chose to excavate the first ice grotto in 1870. Due to its steep incline, it is the fastest moving glacier (300m/year) and it also reacts most rapidly to climate change. The passionate history of the glacier is related in an outdoor exhibition located close to the Chalet du Chalet du Glacier des Bossons. Nine illustrated information panels present different aspects of the glacier: its life, evolution of a glacier, the small ice age... The exhibition is translated into English and German and is free of charge. The Chalet du Glacier des Bossons is open from June to September.

The Mer de Glace - Chamonix Mont-Blanc

« A sea, stirred by a strong breeze, then suddenly frozen to ice » Windham (1741)
The Mer de Glace is one of the worlds most visited natural sites. This enthusiasm began in the 18th century when wealthy and learned travellers, in quest of discovery and knowledge, began to show an interest in the glaciers and in particular this unique spot. Since 1908 the Montenvers-Mer de Glace cog railway enables enthusiastic visitors to follow in the footsteps of those illustrious pioneers: Rousseau, Hugo, Nodier, Sand, Goethe, Shelley, Liszt and so many more...

The ice grotto: takes you into the heart of the glacier where you may discover the astounding colour of the ice, beautiful carvings and models in period clothing, witness to bygone mountain life, as if frozen in time. Every year (and for the past 50 years) a new grotto is meticulously sculpted in the ice as the previous work of art is slowly but surely transported down the valley by the glacier.

Chamonix's Natural Ressources

The Aiguilles Rouges, in the commune of Chamonix, Carlaveyron in Les Houches and the Vallon de Berard in the commune of Vallorcine, are 3 nature reserves covering over 4000 hectares of mountain territory. This protected area is a treasure to behold where one can contemplate the multiple facets of undisturbed nature: lakes, cliffs, unusual rock formations, vestiges of glaciers... Admire the beauty of the landscape and help us to preserve it!

To protect the wildlife, do not take your dog with you

Do not pick the flowers, do not collect fossils, so that others may admire them.

Do not camp out and do not light a fire, leave no traces of your visit.

Avoid noise and any activity that is liable to disturb the wildlife
A living laboratory Situated at the Col des Montets, the Aiguilles rouges chalet laboratory offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the passionate world of fauna and flora in the mountains. There is a permanent exhibition, fascinating for all ages, observations through microscopes, interactive screens, projections and conferences. Scientific students will be delighted to accompany you on the botanical path around the reserve; a great occasion for marmot spotting.
The chalet is open from the end of May to mid September.