Mont Blanc
At roughly 4,806 meters, Mont Blanc is the highest peak in Western Europe. Its first ascent in 1786 marked the birth of modern mountaineering, and most visitors admire it from afar.
Mont Blanc sits on the French-Italian border. It was first climbed in 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard, both of Chamonix, an event regarded as the starting point of modern mountaineering. Ordinary visitors can view the mountain from the Aiguille du Midi, the Brévent or the Flégère. Climbing it requires glacier skills and high-altitude acclimatization. The classic Goûter route usually takes 2–3 days. Book mountain huts in advance and hire a certified high-mountain guide. Rockfall and glacier changes have been frequent in recent years, so check the Office of High Mountain (OHM) announcements before setting out.
Opening hours
Viewpoint open all day
Nearby sights
- Aiguille du Midi & Step into the Void
- Panoramic Mont-Blanc Gondola
- Bossons Glacier
- Plan de l'Aiguille & Grand Balcon Nord
- Vallée Blanche
- Skyway Monte Bianco
- Lac des Gaillands
- Parc de Merlet