Courmayeur

The toponym Courmayeur has been mentioned as Curia majori (1233–1381), Corte Maggiore (1620), Cormoyeu (1648), Cormaior (1680), Cormaior (Vissher, 1695), Cormaggior (L'Isle, 1707), Cormaior (Stagnoni, 1772) and Cormaieur (Martinel, 1799). The present toponym was first confirmed by Édouard Aubert (La Vallée d'Aoste, 1860), Joseph-Marie Henry (Histoire populaire de la Vallée d'Aoste, 1929) and Amé Gorret (Guide de la Vallée d'Aoste, 1877).

It became a popular tourist destination when alpinism arose, thanks to its proximity to Mont Blanc.

Under the Fascist regime and its "Italianist" rule, the town was briefly renamed Cormaiore. Courmayeur was reestablished in 1948 alongside all other French toponyms in the Aosta Valley.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel, connecting Courmayeur with Chamonix, opened in 1965, and provides an important road link between Italy and France.

In 2013, in accordance with regional law 61 (Dénomination officielle des communes de la Vallée d'Aoste et protection de la toponymie locale), a referendum was carried out to change the official name to Courmayeur-Mont-Blanc,[http://www.ledauphine.com/actualite/2014/01/07/c-est-au-tour-de-courmayeur-de-vouloir-s-appeler-mont-blanc C’est au tour de Courmayeur de vouloir s’appeler "Mont-Blanc"] but there was insufficient support.

File:MonteBiancoAug082024 01.jpg|left]]

At an elevation of {{convert|1224|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, it is located at the foot of the southern side of Mont Blanc, at {{convert|4810|m|0|abbr=on}} the highest point in the Alps and western Europe (see Seven Summits), and is crossed by the Dora Baltea (fr. Doire baltée) river.

Courmayeur shares administration of Mont Blanc with its neighboring municipality of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains in France, and is consequently able to claim the title of highest commune in Italy.

Courmayeur also shares access to the glacial ski run of the Vallée Blanche with another French town, Chamonix, which sits at the opposite, northern, side of the Mont Blanc massif.

File:Cadran solaire - rue de Rome, Courmayeur.JPG

File:Rue de Rome-rue Puchoz Courmayeur AO.jpg

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File:Municipio di Courmayeur.JPG

Courmayeur is cited as "Italy's best all-round ski resort",{{cite book|author=Porter|title=Italy, 1990|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SrDfZXjllPcC|date=January 1990|publisher=Prentice Hall PTR|isbn=978-0-13-217357-5|page=415}} and contains the Alpine Botanical Garden Saussurea, which describes itself as Europe's highest botanical garden.{{cite book|last=Le Vay|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-rzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT66|title=A Tour of Mont Blanc: And other circuitous adventures in Italy, France and Switzerland|date=4 August 2014|publisher=Summersdale Publishers Limited|isbn=978-1-78372-215-0|page=66}} The Church of Saint-Pantaléon dates to the 18th century.

In the summer months Courmayeur is a popular destination for hikers.{{cite book|last=Belford|first=Ros|title=Back Roads Italy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MYAVZOk4kN4C&pg=PA38|date=1 March 2010|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited|isbn=978-1-4053-4531-6|page=38}}

The nearby village of [https://tourdumontblanc.holiday/la-palud/ La Palud] is the base station of the Skyway Monte Bianco, the cable car to the Pointe Helbronner. This links to the Vallée Blanche Aerial Tramway going to the Aiguille du Midi, which connects to the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, the cable car from Chamonix.

Notre Dame de Guérison sanctuary stands at the foot of Mont Chétif.

• Biathlon World Championships 1959
• 2011 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships
• 2012 Italian Figure Skating Championships
• Courmayeur Ladies Open
• Mont Blanc Trophy
• Valle d'Aosta Open

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Chamonix, France

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{{Commons category|Courmayeur}}

• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Courmayeur}}
• {{official website|http://www.comune.courmayeur.ao.it}}  {{in lang|it|fr}}

{{Comuni of Aosta Valley}}

{{Mont Blanc massif}}

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Category:Ski areas and resorts in Italy