Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Mountain resort in Haute-Savoie, France.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department that sits at an elevation of 1030 meters in the Arve Valley. The town center is surrounded by several peaks of the Mont Blanc massif and spreads along the main road through the valley.
The valley was granted to the Benedictine monastery of St. Michel de la Cluse in 1091, marking the beginning of documented settlement in this alpine region. Centuries later, the arrival of British travelers in the 18th century transformed the area into a major destination for alpine tourism.
The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix was founded in 1821, establishing the first professional mountain guide association in the Alps. This organization set training and safety standards in mountaineering that were adopted around the world.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel connects the town directly to Italy and allows for a quick crossing of the Alps. The train station offers regular connections via the St. Gervais-Vallorcine line and makes arrival without a car easier.
The commune hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, establishing the worldwide tradition of international winter sports competitions. The medals awarded at that time were not officially included in the Olympic program, which retrospectively made the event a demonstration.
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