Chamonix

The name Campum munitum, meaning fortified plain or field, had been used as early as 1091. By 1283 the name had been abbreviated to a similar form to the modern Chamonis. Other forms through the ages include Chamouny in 1581, Chamony in 1652, Chamouni in 1786, and the particular spelling Chamonix from 1793.

Chamonix is the fourth-largest commune in metropolitan France, with an area of {{convert|245|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. Its population of around 8,900 ranks 1,089th within the country of France.Sources des données : INSEE – [http://www.linternaute.com/ville/ville/donnee/1844/chamonix-mont-blanc.shtml Chamonix: Données générales]

File:The Saussure monument, Chamonix.jpg, with Jacques Balmat (left) who points towards the summit of Mont Blanc, Monument at Chamonix.]]

The valley was first mentioned in 1091, when it was granted by the Count of the Genevois to the great Benedictine house of St. Michel de la Cluse, near Turin, which by the early 13th century had established a priory there.The Development of the Appreciation of Mountain Scenery in Modern Times, Walter Woodburn Hyde, Geographical Review, Vol. 3, No. 2 (February 1917), pp. 107–118 However, in 1786 the inhabitants bought their freedom from the canons of Sallanches, to whom the priory had been transferred in 1519.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In 1530, the inhabitants obtained from the Count of the Genevois the privilege of holding two fairs a year, while the valley was often visited by the civil officials and by the bishops of Geneva (first recorded visit in 1411, while St. Francis de Sales came there in 1606).{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} But travellers for pleasure were very rare.

Chamonix was part of the historical land of Savoy and emerged as the feudal territory of the House of Savoy during the 11th to 14th centuries. The historical territory is shared between the modern countries of France, Italy and Switzerland. The House of Savoy became the longest surviving royal house in Europe. It ruled the County of Savoy to 1416 and then the Duchy of Savoy from 1416 to 1860.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The first party to publish (1744) an account of their visit was that of Richard Pococke, William Windham and others, such as the Englishmen who visited the Mer de Glace in 1741. In 1742 came P. Martel and several other Genevese, in 1760 Horace Bénédict de Saussure, as well as rather later Marc-Théodore Bourrit.

The growth of tourism in the early 19th century led to the formation of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix in 1821, to regulate access to the mountain slopes (which were communally or co-operatively owned), and this association held a monopoly of guiding from the town until it was broken by French government action in 1892; thereafter guides were required to hold a diploma issued by a commission dominated by civil servants and members of the French Alpine Club rather than local residents.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

From the late 19th century on, tourist development was dominated by national and international initiatives rather than local entrepreneurs, though the local community was increasingly dependent upon and active in the tourist industry.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The commune successfully lobbied to change its name from Chamonix to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in 1916.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} However, following the loss of its monopoly, the Compagnie reformed as an association of local guides, and retained an important role in local society; it provided the services of a friendly society to its members, and in the 20th century many of them were noted mountaineers and popularisers of mountain tourism, notably the novelist Roger Frison-Roche, the first member of the Compagnie not to be born in Chamonix.

File:Zentralbibliothek Zürich - Vallée de Chamonix Traversée de la Mer de Glace - 400017818.jpg

Serving as the host city for the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924 further raised Chamonix's profile as an international tourist destination.

During the Second World War, a Children's Home operated in Chamonix, in which several dozens of Jewish children were hidden from the Nazis. Some of those who hid them were recognised as "Righteous Among the Nations".[http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/childrens-homes/chamonix/index.asp the Children's Home in Chamonix], at Yad Vashem website

By the 1960s, agriculture had been reduced to a marginal activity, while the number of tourist beds available rose to around 60,000 by the end of the 20th century, with about 5 million visitors a year.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

The commune of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc includes 16 villages and hamlets. From north to south: Le Tour {{convert|1462|m|ft|0|abbr=on}},{{cite web | title = Chamonix Valley Website | url = http://www.chamonix.com/page.php?page=88&r=remontees_mecaniques_temps_reel&ling=en | access-date = 2010-02-10 | archive-date = 2010-01-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100103102507/http://chamonix.com/page.php?page=88&r=remontees_mecaniques_temps_reel&ling=en | url-status = dead }} Montroc, Le Planet, Argentière {{convert|1252|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, Les Chosalets, Le Lavancher, Les Tines, Les Bois, Les-Praz-de-Chamonix {{convert|1060|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Les Pècles, Les Mouilles, Les Barrats, Les Pélerins, Les Gaillands, and Les Bossons {{convert|1012|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.

Due to its elevation, Chamonix has a humid continental climate (Dfb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with an average annual precipitation of {{convert|1280|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Summers are mild and winters are cold and snowy.

{{Weather box

|location = Chamonix, elevation: {{convert|1042|m|ft|0|abbr=on|}}, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1880–present

|collapsed =

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan record high C = 15.3

|Feb record high C = 19.6

|Mar record high C = 22.1

|Apr record high C = 26.4

|May record high C = 31.7

|Jun record high C = 36.4

|Jul record high C = 37.2

|Aug record high C = 36.0

|Sep record high C = 31.1

|Oct record high C = 26.0

|Nov record high C = 22.3

|Dec record high C = 16.5

|Jan high C = 2.7

|Feb high C = 5.0

|Mar high C = 8.9

|Apr high C = 12.7

|May high C = 17.6

|Jun high C = 21.2

|Jul high C = 23.9

|Aug high C = 23.1

|Sep high C = 19.1

|Oct high C = 14.7

|Nov high C = 7.4

|Dec high C = 2.6

|year high C = 13.3

|Jan mean C = -2.2

|Feb mean C = -0.7

|Mar mean C = 3.0

|Apr mean C = 6.6

|May mean C = 11.2

|Jun mean C = 14.3

|Jul mean C = 16.5

|Aug mean C = 15.9

|Sep mean C = 12.5

|Oct mean C = 8.6

|Nov mean C = 2.7

|Dec mean C = -1.6

|year mean C = 7.3

|Jan low C = -7.1

|Feb low C = -6.3

|Mar low C = -3.0

|Apr low C = 0.4

|May low C = 4.8

|Jun low C = 7.5

|Jul low C = 9.1

|Aug low C = 8.7

|Sep low C = 6.0

|Oct low C = 2.5

|Nov low C = -2.1

|Dec low C = -5.7

|year low C = 1.3

|Jan record low C = -31.0

|Feb record low C = -25.0

|Mar record low C = -23.2

|Apr record low C = -15.0

|May record low C = -6.0

|Jun record low C = -3.6

|Jul record low C = -1.8

|Aug record low C = -1.7

|Sep record low C = -3.5

|Oct record low C = -13.0

|Nov record low C = -22.0

|Dec record low C = -25.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 93.9

|Feb precipitation mm = 83.8

|Mar precipitation mm = 86.6

|Apr precipitation mm = 89.0

|May precipitation mm = 121.4

|Jun precipitation mm = 130.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 119.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 125.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 103.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 116.8

|Nov precipitation mm = 100.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 109.8

|year precipitation mm = 1280.9

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 9.7

|Feb precipitation days = 8.4

|Mar precipitation days = 9.8

|Apr precipitation days = 10.1

|May precipitation days = 13.6

|Jun precipitation days = 12.6

|Jul precipitation days = 11.8

|Aug precipitation days = 12.1

|Sep precipitation days = 9.9

|Oct precipitation days = 10.1

|Nov precipitation days = 9.6

|Dec precipitation days = 10.6

|year precipitation days = 128.3

|source 1 = Meteo France

{{cite web

| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_74056001.pdf

| title = Chamonix (74)

| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records

| publisher = Meteo France

| language = fr

| access-date = 14 February 2019}}

}}

{{Historical populations

| align = none

| cols = 2

| percentages = pagr

| source = EHESS{{Cassini-Ehess|7837|Chamonix}} and INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7633058?geo=COM-74056#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE

| graph-pos = bottom

|1793 |1830

|1800 |1925

|1806 |1949

|1821 |2232

|1836 |2528

|1846 |2304

|1856 |2308

|1861 |2304

|1866 |2415

|1872 |2455

|1876 |2406

|1881 |2420

|1886 |2450

|1891 |2447

|1896 |2435

|1901 |2729

|1906 |3482

|1911 |3109

|1921 |3040

|1926 |3811

|1931 |4446

|1936 |4633

|1946 |5883

|1954 |5699

|1962 |7213

|1968 |7745

|1975 |8393

|1982 |8746

|1990 |9701

|1999 |9830

|2009 |9054

|2014 |8997

|2020 |8644

}}

Chamonix is a winter sports resort town that still attracts skiers ready to test themselves both on the pistes in the official area and against the challenges of the backcountry skiing.{{cite web |date=23 May 2022 |title=Ski Chamonix |url=https://www.skiresorts.net/ski-chamonix/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=Ski Resorts}} As the highest European mountain west of Russia,{{cite web|title=Chamonix Resort Information|url=https://www.book.ski/resorts/chamonix/|website=Freedom Snowsports|access-date=30 July 2018}} Mont Blanc attracts mountain climbers. Chamonix is known as the "Gateway to the European Cascades." The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc has been held every August since 2003.

There is a cable car up to the {{convert|3842|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} Aiguille du Midi. Constructed in 1955, it was then the highest cable car in the world{{cite web|title=Chamonix, Capitale Mondiale De L'alpinisme|url=http://www.summitpost.org/mountain-towns-chamonix-france/395345|website=Summit Post|access-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413235228/http://www.summitpost.org/mountain-towns-chamonix-france/395345|archive-date=13 April 2015|date=6 April 2008}} and remains the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world.{{cite book|last1=Berne|first1=Laurent|title=L'aventure du premier téléphérique de France: Chronique du premier téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, dit "des Glaciers", à Chamonix-Mont-Blanc|date=2012|publisher=Éditions des Rochers|isbn=9782746641556|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrT6NWotDzwC|access-date=14 June 2017}}

Chamonix is divided into three separate ski areas (Les Grands Montets, Brévent - Flégère, le domaine de Balme) which run along the valley from Le Tour down to Les Houches.[https://www.topskiresort.com/resort/Chamonix%20Mont-Blanc/slopes Chamonix ski resort guide] In addition to the 1924 Winter Olympic Games, the town hosts a round of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup and the Arlberg-Kandahar. It previously hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1937 and the 1984 and 1988 Biathlon World Championships for women.

The 1930 Ice Hockey World Championships was mostly held at Chamonix. The town also hosted the European Curling Championships in 1991 and 1999.

The town of Chamonix is served by French Route Nationale 205 (RN 205), nicknamed the Route blanche,Le Comité de préservation du village des Houches – [http://cpvh.ifrance.com/pdf/r%E9sum%E9dossierpollution.pdf Dossier publié le 12/05/2004]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (PDF) or "white route", due to its snowiness. This is an extension of French autoroute 40 (A40), similarly nicknamed the autoroute blanche, which ends at Le Fayet, a village in the commune of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.Site de l'association de défense des usagers de l'A40 et de l'A41 – [http://adua40.free.fr/presse.html Revue de presse] The 11.6-km Mont Blanc Tunnel, which opened in 1965, links Chamonix to Courmayeur in Italy.{{cite web | title=Chamonix Valley Website | url=http://www.atmb.net/spip.php?page=atmb&content=tunnel&id_rubrique=21&lang=en | access-date=2010-02-10 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114170633/http://www.atmb.net/spip.php?page=atmb&content=tunnel&id_rubrique=21&lang=en | archive-date=2008-11-14 }} Chamonix is linked to Switzerland by what used to be RN 506a. In 2006, it was converted to a {{ill|Route Départementale|fr}} 1506, with a part of it integrated into RN 205.

The nearest airport to Chamonix is Geneva Cointrin International and it is {{convert|88|km|0|abbr=off}} away.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

File:Gare de Chamonix - Mont-Blanc.JPG

Chamonix is served by the metre-gauge St Gervais-Vallorcine Line, operated by SNCF. The line from Saint Gervais (on the standard-gauge rail network) to Chamonix opened in 1901; it was extended to Vallorcine in 1908. The line holds the record for the steepest gradient on any standard (adhesion) railway. There are 10 stations on this line within the commune of Chamonix: Montroc-le-Planet, Argentière, La Joux, Les Tines, Les Praz-de-Chamonix, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Chamonix-Aiguille-du-Midi, Les Moussoux, Les Pélerins and Les Bossons.

From Vallorcine, the rail route continues over the border into Switzerland, meeting the SBB network at Martigny. This latter section, a metre-gauge cog railway, is operated by Transports de Martigny et Régions SA. The train service from Vallorcine to Martigny is known as the Mont Blanc Express. Timetables on the St Gervais-Vallorcine and Vallorcine-Martigny sections are synchronized.{{cite web | title=Mont Blanc Express timetables for 2010 | url=http://cms.tmrsa.ch/fileadmin/TMRS/upload/pdf/Mont-Blanc_Express_2010_D_finitif.pdf | access-date=2010-02-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003747/http://cms.tmrsa.ch/fileadmin/TMRS/upload/pdf/Mont-Blanc_Express_2010_D_finitif.pdf | archive-date=2011-07-07 | url-status=dead }} [in French]

The 5.1-km Montenvers Railway is a cog railway that provides access to the tourist site of Montenvers. Opened in 1909, its rail station was built next to SNCF's Chamonix station on the St Gervais-Vallorcine Line. In fact the two stations are directly linked.Site de Christophe Jacquet spécialisé sur [http://train.mt.blanc.free.fr/infrastructure/gares/ les trains du Mont-Blanc] Montenvers provides further tourist access to middle and high mountain areas.{{cite web|title=Montenvers Mer De Glace|url=http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace|website=Compagnie du Montblanc|access-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402123133/http://www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/en/site-overview/montenvers-mer-de-glace|archive-date=2 April 2016}}

Chamonix has one of the highest cable cars in the world, which links the town to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi at 3842 m.Site de l'Aiguille du Midi – [http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/pages/excursions_aiguille_telepherique_2.html Histoire du téléphérique] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724164435/http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/pages/excursions_aiguille_telepherique_2.html |date=July 24, 2009 }} It is based on an older system built in 1920, rebuilt in the first half of the 1950s over five summer seasons,[https://books.google.com/books?id=SeEDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Mechanics+Science+installing+linoleum&pg=PA81 Cable Way to the Top of the Alps.] Popular Mechanics, April 1956, pp. 81-84. fully modernized in 1979, and upgraded again in 2008. On the other side of the valley, another cable car links Chamonix to the viewpoint of Planpraz. A second line links Planpraz to the summit of Le Brévent at 2525 meters.{{cite web |title=Map of the Brévent-Flégère area |url=http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/plan_breventflegere_ete.php |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527195523/http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/plan_breventflegere_ete.php |archive-date=2010-05-27 |access-date=2010-02-10}}{{cite web | title=Summer timetables for Chamonix gondolas and funicular railways | url=http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/pages/horaires_ete_glisse_gb.html#breventflegere | access-date=2010-02-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211121016/http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/pages/horaires_ete_glisse_gb.html#breventflegere | archive-date=2010-02-11 | url-status=dead }} Many other cable cars exist in the valley, and are heavily used by skiers and residents. The Plan Joran chairlift at the base of Les Grands Montets is due to be replaced by a 10-person gondola for the Winter 2014/15 season.New for Winter 2014/15 - http://www.skicollection.co.uk/Ski/Chamonix.htm

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}

Chamonix is twinned with:

• Michel-Gabriel Paccard (1757–1827) a Savoyard doctor and alpinist, citizen of the Kingdom of Sardinia
• Venance Payot (1826–1902) a naturalist, glaciologist, mountain-guide, scholar, author and twice mayor of Chamonix
• Edward Whymper (1840-1911), the English mountaineer, explorer, illustrator, and author best known for the first ascent of the Matterhorn, died here in 1911
• Joseph Vallot (1854–1925) a scientist, astronomer, botanist, geographer, cartographer and alpinist
• Charles Bozon (1932–1964) an alpine ski racer and bronze medallist at the 1960 Winter Olympics

• Communes of the Haute-Savoie department
• Mer de Glace
• Mont Blanc Massif
• Montroc
• The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt

File:Chamonix panorama Aiguille du Midi.jpeg

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Chamonix-Mont-Blanc|Chamonix}}

• {{wikivoyage-inline|Chamonix}}
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Chamonix | volume= 5 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge| page = 827 |short= 1}}
• [http://www.chamonix-mont-blanc.fr Official site of the city of Chamonix Mont-Blanc]
• [https://www.chamonix.com/tourist-office,99,en.html Chamonix Tourist Information Office and Website]

{{Haute-Savoie communes}}

{{Mont Blanc massif}}

{{Olympic Winter Games Host Cities}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Communes of Haute-Savoie

Category:Ski resorts in France