Incredible place for ski lovers

Short name: Chamonix

Nickname: The White Lady (La Dame blanche)

Region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 

The hight: 4810m (the peak Mont Blanc)

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, a city which is located in the frontier of France, Switzerland and Italy. Including sixteen small villages, stretching from north to south, the city shares with Saint-Gervais-les-Bains the record for the municipality with the highest altitude in France, from 995m to 4809m above sea level, famous for its skiing, paragliding ... especially the peak Mont Blanc. It attracts a lot of tourists, climbers and explorers around the world.

WHERE TO GO

Tourism Office

The first thing to do is going to the tourist Office located right next to the church of Saint Michel et Prieuré. In the office you can get a map, the informations of the status of cable cars and other cultural activities at the time. During our visit, there were only two active cable cars: the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi and the Téléphérique de la Flégère.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Village

Take a walk to explore the city is not to be missed, the first stop is Chamonix-Mont-Blanc village. You will get used to the presence of the white mountains appear in front of all photos, with a little sunshine, the scene become more fresh. A river flows from the mass of Mont-Blanc through the valley, Arve river.

The hero who conquered the Mont Blanc

In the central square, you will see two men's statues, they look at the distant mountains. On August 8, 1786, two Chamonix natives, Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard, conquered the highest peak Mont Blanc for the first time. The statue on the left is Jacques Balmat,while the statue on the right holds the pole in the left hand, and the right hand is pointing forward, is the Swiss naturalist Horace Bénédict de Saussure. In order to study alpine plants, he paid a reward for the people who climbed the top of Mont Blanc.

Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi

The cable cars, Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, is most famous for its elevation and slope, goes from the center of Chamonix town to the summit of Midi (3842m) in only about 20 minutes.

Plan de l'Aiguille

The first stop, Plan de l'Aiguille (2317m), from here you can go hiking or trekking around the surrounding area such as Lac bleu.

When walking around, you can see many people try to stack the rocks on top of each other.

If you have more time, you can go also to the next villages, like Les Praz de Chamonix.

There, you can go up with La Flégère cable cars, at the height of 2335m, you have an other amazing view.

WHAT TO EAT

OMELETTERIE LA POELE RESTAURANT

The old restaurant is more than 50 years old, here you can enjoy a variety of different omelette. If you order the menu with appetizers, main courses and desserts, you will start the meal with fresh salads with special sauce, omelettte and a crepe. Do not forget to enjoy the world-class beer with your meal.

Address : 116 rue des Moulins, Chamonix

Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily

LE MONCHU RESTAURANT

The restaurant, opened in 1972, is famous for its traditional dishes. Here you will not only be fascinated by food but also by a very special space, an old hotel. The best-selling dishes are grilled beef on natural granite and 「fondue」 with cheese from Savoie.

Address : 1 Rue du Lyret, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Opening hours: 11:30 - 23:00

COOL CATS FASTFOOD

Fast food restaurant in Chamonix, here you can enjoy the delicious sausages tastes, soaked, sandwiches, salads... Especially all ingredients are local, fresh with good price.

Address : 116 rue des Moulins, Chamonix

Opening hours: daily 12:00 - 00:00 / On monday 16:00 - 00:00

O' BON PARIS' NOTE

This beautiful city is the most crowded in winter so if your goal is just a holiday, climbing, paragliding, you should avoid this time, you will feel the beautiful face of the city, comfortable at a more affordable cost.

If you book your hotel in Chamonix, you can ask the reception desk to pick up a free travel card, which can use public transportation within the village and between villages. In addition, in the village of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc there is a free travel bus named Le Mulet, if you don't want to walk.

Written and Photographed by Phan Thanh Thuy