Chamonix

Chamonix, officially Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, is a commune in southeastern France, in the Haute-Savoie department within the Auvergne-Rône-Alpes region. It lies in the Chamonix valley at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, at about 1,000 meters above sea level, and serves as a major gateway to the Mont Blanc region. The Mont Blanc massif is home to Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps at 4,808 meters. The town is near the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which connects France and Italy.

The area has a long mountaineering heritage, with development accelerating in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. In 2010 the Mont Blanc Massif was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Alps property.

The local economy centers on mountain tourism and outdoor recreation. In winter, skiing and snow sports draw visitors to resorts in the valley, and in summer hikers and climbers use the valley as a base for excursions to glaciers and high peaks. Notable sights include the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which reaches the high alpine panorama above the valley, and the Mer de Glace on the Montenvers railway. The area also features the Brévent–Flégère and Grands Montets districts, offering varied terrain.

Transport links include the Mont-Blanc Express railway, which runs between Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet and Vallorcine with onward connections to Martigny, Switzerland, and the Mont Blanc road tunnel through the Alps.

Population is around 10,000 residents, with a broader transient tourist population year-round.