Chamonix, Olympic summits

Originally

"Citius, altius, fortius” : rare are the lands that confront humans with the Olympic creed with such profound resonance. Chamonix stands among these exceptional places, and a century ago, the Games wisely chose it as the inaugural host of their “winter” edition. From the vibrant stained glass of the local church, portraying fearless skiers and daring bobsleigh pilots, to the exhilarating slopes of the Aiguille du Midi, towering at 3,842 metres, the essence of the Olympic spirit gracefully weaves its way through every facet of this majestic setting.

Over the centuries

Chamonix stands as a guardian over an alpine valley where the flame of Olympic passion never fades. In 1924, the initial Games it embraced unfolded as a winter jubilation; by 1968, Shuss the skier, the Games’ first ever mascot, witnessed in Grenoble the triumphant triple victory of king Killy beneath the watchful gaze of Audrey Hepburn, Johnny Hallyday, Dalida, and Tino Rossi. The festivities expanded in 1992, embracing an ever-growing array of nations, as Algeria entered the competition with its four skiers.

Nowadays

Since 1958, the High Mountain Gendarmerie Squadron has been watching over the thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts coming from across the globe, drawn to Chamonix's slopes to experience their passion. Alongside their annual involvement in over 1,500 interventions, they embark on a vital mission to understand and preserve the sanctity of high mountains, amidst a rapidly-changing climate.

Did you know?

• One of the pioneers of mountaineering, Horace Bénédict de Saussure, an 18th-century aristocrat, promised a substantial reward to anyone who could climb Mont Blanc, nicknamed the "roof of Europe.

• The epicentre of French skiing competitions - the International Ski Federation was founded there in 1924 - with heroes like James Couttet, the downhill world champion at just 16 years old; Charles Bozon, gold medalist in slalom at the Chamonix World Championships in 1962; Karine Ruby, six-time snowboarding world champion and Olympic champion in 2000.

• A family affair... with the Vallots - Joseph and Henry, authors of the annals of the Mont-Blanc Meteorological Observatory, the Ravanel family - consisting of alpine guides and skiers, and the Monard family - from Bobby, a French electrician and hockey player who won a medal in 1924, to his children Coco and Mireille Monard, who now run the Bistrot des Sports.

• The Aiguille du Midi, the highest peak in Chamonix at 3,842 metres, also home to the highest radio transmission centre in France, overlooks the Vallée Blanche. It is accessible via the oldest funicular in France, from its beginnings in 1904 to its inauguration during the 1924 Olympics, and later with the opening of the world's highest cable car in 1955.

• A monumental mural of Chamonix guides and mountaineers, located at 76 Rue du Docteur Paccard, features illustrious figures from the ascent of Mont-Blanc since 1760, including Maurice Herzog and Henriette d’Angeville. Recommended readings include the writings of Richard Windham and William Pocock regarding "La Mer de Glace" or the Lac Blanc.

• The "step into the void", touted as the "highest attraction in Europe," has become an essential tourist destination since its opening to the public in 2013. This all-glass structure from floor to ceiling overlooks a void of over 1,000 metres, and can withstand winds of up to 220 km/h as well as a temperature variation of 60 degrees.

• The “Marathon du Blanc”, with its annual 10,300 participants, is an unmissable event where 80 nationalities are represented. Celebrating its 44th edition in 2024, it is organised by the Chamonix Sports Club.

• Christine Janin, known as the "lady of spades or “peaks”, and woman of heart," is a physician and mountaineer who regularly shares her adventures in hospitals. She was the first French woman to summit Everest in 1990 and the first woman in the world to reach the North Pole without mechanical means or sled dogs in 1997.