Chamonix - fun in summer and winter
Winter is on its way, and many people considering winter holidays may well be thinking about skiing, and one of Europe’s top skiing destinations is Chamonix, in the French Alps. Chamonix is at the foot of Mont Blanc, on the River Arve, and is popular all year round for sports of various kinds ranging from skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing in the winter, to hiking, rock climbing, paragliding, rafting and canyoning in the summer.
Even if you are not terrifically into sports, Chamonix still has a lot to offer if you love mountain views, good food and fresh air.
One of the things that Chamonix is famous for is the cable car up to the 3842 metre high mountain known as the Aiguille du Midi, which offers utterly breathtaking views. The cable car was built in 1955, and at the time was the highest cable car in the world.
Another famous feature of Chamonix is the amazingly beautiful nearby glacier known as the Mer de Glace, or Sea of Ice.
Chamonix itself is full of interesting apres-ski nightlife, with great bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants to enjoy in the evening.
And while you are there, don’t forget to try some chocolates from the many high-class chocalatiers in the town – a speciality of the area is the type of chocolate known as a chardon, which resembles a snowball, and is kind of truffle-like centre covered in white chocolate, providing a sensational experience for those who love chocolate.
There are also plenty of creperies serving both sweet and savoury crepes – a good one to try is chestnut crepe.
Chamonix attracts people from all over Europe, indeed, all over the world, so there is a very international atmosphere.
Summer and winter, Chamonix is an exciting place to be.
Filed under: Winter sports, Nightlife, Food, France
