Téléphérique du Brévent, Aerial tramway in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
The Téléphérique du Brévent is an aerial tramway in Chamonix that carries passengers in two stages to the summit of Le Brévent, at around 2525 meters above sea level. The first section ends at the mid-station of Planpraz, around 2000 meters, where a second cabin continues the ascent to the top.
The cable car was built in the 1920s, making it one of the earliest of its kind in the French Alps. Its construction opened the high slopes around Chamonix to a far wider range of visitors than had ever been possible before.
At the mid-station of Planpraz, a terrace restaurant draws both locals and visitors who stop to eat outside with the Mont Blanc massif directly in front of them. This shared use of the mountain space, whether for skiing, hiking, or simply sitting, is a natural part of daily life in the Chamonix valley.
The ride takes around 15 to 20 minutes in total, with a stop at Planpraz where you change cabins and can stay as long as you like. It is noticeably colder at the top than in the valley, so warm layers are worth bringing even on a sunny day.
From the top station, the Aiguille du Midi cable car on the opposite side of the valley is directly visible, giving a rare face-to-face view of two of Chamonix's most known high-altitude stations. Few visitors realize the two systems are linked and can be used together as part of a single crossing of the valley.
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