The Brief History of Chamonix

It’s impossible to think of Chamonix without thinking of mountaineering; after all, it’s hard to miss the towering peaks of Mont Blanc which form a magnificent backdrop to this popular resort. For property hunters with a passion for the great outdoors Chamonix is the Mecca of the mountains; a bustling year-round destination where like-minded enthusiasts gather to indulge in their favourite pastimes during the day and chill out in the many bars, restaurants and clubs at night. This part of the French Alps is known as the Haute-Savoie and has been attracting British interest since the mid-1700s.

Chamonix, or Chamouni as it was originally known, was first “discovered” by two Englishmen, who in 1741 came across a tiny mountain village surrounded by fearsome glaciers and indomitable mountain peaks. William Windham and Richard Pococke had little idea that their discovery of the famous Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) glacier would have such a monumental impact on European tourism, winter sports and the French Alps. As word of their discovery spread increasing numbers of visitors came to see the spectacle of the agitated, frozen river above Chamonix and the peaceful village began to expand.

After many failed attempts the very first mountaineers reached the summit of Mont Blanc in 1786 and the curse of the unassailable mountain was broken. However many lives continued to be lost in endeavours to conquer the snow-clad peaks and in 1821 the famous Compagnie des Guides was created to guide mountaineers to the summit. During the late 1700s and early 1800s more and more hotels were built for the predominantly English visitors who were drawn to the area by the romantic writings and poetry of their fellow countrymen. An increasing number of scientists, mountaineers and climbers arrived and after the reunification of Savoie with France, Napoleon III ordered the creation of road and rail access from Geneva. In 1866 the road was complete and the railway opened in 1901. These significant milestones marked the start of a boom time for Chamonix and the peaceful market town swiftly developed into a busy and prosperous town with an established population and popular summer season. In 1908 the famous Montenvers Mer de Glace cog railway opened to carry visitors up to the glacier and in 2008 the now-famous “Little Red Train” celebrates its 100th birthday.

The next landmark achievement for the resort was to be one of the most significant events for the world of winter-sports and the French Alps. In 1924 Chamonix hosted the first ever Winter Olympics and opened up both the Chamonix Valley and the wider French Alps as the destination of choice for European winter-sports enthusiasts. Very quickly cable cars and ski lifts were installed, starting with the Planpraz, then the Brevent, the Aiguille du Midi and the Flégère. Chamonix quickly expanded into the large and popular resort that we see today and her reputation as the capital of the ski and mountaineering world was sealed.

In 2008 Chamonix is a major tourist destination, with visitors arriving from all over the globe throughout the entire year. The resort has developed into a cosmopolitan mountain town, with designer boutiques, chic bars and Michelin-starred restaurants happily sitting alongside juice bars, sports shops and alpine chalets serving hearty Savoyard fare. The name Chamonix is synonymous with skiing and mountaineering and the resort continues to innovate in the sporting world with the creation of new and challenging extreme sports. Never forgetting her roots, Chamonix offers the perfect blend of old-meets-new in both architectural style and culture and is justifiably one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

So, don’t waste the opportunity to visit this historically rich and beautiful place - Chamonix is waiting for you.

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