Mont d'Arbois

Mont d'Arbois is a mountain summit near Saint-Gervais-les-Bains that rises to approximately 1833 meters and features a broad plateau with meadows and scattered buildings. From this location, one can see Mont-Blanc and other Alpine peaks in the distance.

This summit was developed as a leisure and tourism destination in the 1920s when local industrialists began building pathways and structures. This transformation shifted it from purely agricultural grazing land to a popular recreational spot.

The mountain held importance for local farmers and herders who grazed livestock on its meadows for centuries. Today the old paths and stone huts reflect this pastoral heritage that shaped life in the region for generations.

A cable car connects the valley to the summit and operates during the warmer months. Visitors should arrive early in the day, as the upper areas can become obscured quickly when fog rolls in.

This peak served as a refuge during World War II for French intellectuals seeking to escape persecution. This episode shows how remote mountain locations became shelters for people during times of crisis.