From the Refuge des Aiglons, you can take one of the 170 itineraries listed in the Chamonix valley to discover its natural wonders, one of the most beautiful of which is Mont Blanc. Europe's highest peak, shaped by its eternal snows, you'll be captivated by this guardian of incomparable natural beauty.
Discover Mont Blanc
Between legends and exploits, the massif offers a thousand and one stories to tell by the fireside of the hotel overlooking Mont-Blanc.
Mont-Blanc: a cursed mountain
Until the mid-18th century, Mont Blanc was considered a cursed mountain by the valley's inhabitants. Indeed, one of the massif's peaks is still called "le Mont maudit". This popular belief dates back to ancient Rome, when it was possible to cross the Col des Géants with one's herd until the day when ice demons took over the alpine pastures, driving men and their animals to the bottom of the valley... This advance, the presence of the enchanted realm of fairies (whose queen is called the White Goddess) and invisible evil spirits seriously frightened the population, particularly at the beginning of the 18th century, when the Mer des Glaces came dangerously close to Chamonix.
Conquering the summits
But all these legends didn't scare Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, physicist, geologist, naturalist and grandfather of the linguist. In fact, by 1786, when he attempted to climb Mont Blanc, he had already taken part in a number of expeditions that had led him to scale the Grammont, explore the Glacier de Valsorey and climb the Michel rock... But Mont Blanc resisted him, just as it had resisted Michel Paccard, Chamonix's physician and botanist since 1783. So Saussure issued a challenge and promised a hefty reward to whoever reached the summit of Mont-Blanc first. And on August 8, 1786, at around 6 pm, Michel Paccard, accompanied by Jacques Balmat, then a modest chamois hunter and crystal maker aged 24, reached the summit of Mont Blanc for the first time. The two men thus made history not only on Mont Blanc, the roof of Europe, but also in the valley, which saw the birth of mountaineering with an influx of clients from 1787 onwards.
Structure of the Mont Blanc massif
The Mont Blanc massif is a mountain range rising to 4800 meters above sea level and covering an area of around 400 km2. It encroaches mainly on the French department of Haute-Savoie, but also on the Aosta Valley in Italy and the canton of Valais in Switzerland. As a result, it has been divided into several zones:
- the Miage and Tré la Tête domes;
- the central group, which includes the summit of Mont Blanc itself ;
- l'aiguille Verte, les Drus ;
- les aiguilles de Chamonix: from the Aiguille du Midi to the Aiguille des Grands Charmoz;
- the Grandes Jorasses ;
- the Aiguille d'Argentière group.
The most important valleys are linked by the Mont-Blanc tunnel, the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass and the Col des Montets pass through Vallorcine.
Must-see sites from the refuge des Aiglons
Ideally located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the Refuge des Aiglons allows you to visit all the most remarkable spots in the resort, summer and winter alike. Whether you're a skier or a hiker, you'll find it easy to discover all the different alpine sites. Ask at the hotel reception desk about the different cable car timetables and other useful information to help you discover Mont Blanc and the Chamonix valley.
The Aiguille du Midi
TheAiguille du Midi is Chamonix's most famous peak. The world-famous Aiguille du Midi can be reached by cable car from Chamonix, whose town center can be reached in just a few minutes from the Refuge. In just 20 minutes, you're elevated to 3842 m on the summit terrace of the Aiguille, which offers a 360° view of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. And to add to the thrills, you can try out the Aiguille's star attraction: the step into the void. This glass box is suspended at an altitude of over 1,000 metres: thrills and memories guaranteed...
The Sea of Ice
Take the cogwheel train up to the Montenvers site, at an altitude of 1913 m, to discover the Drus and the Grandes Jorasses, but above all the Mer de Glace, which during the greatest ice age reached the gates of Lyon! Visit the glaciorium and the ice grotto, which is reshaped every year: a real source of wonder for young and old alike.
Lakes and waterfalls
As you travel and visit the Chamonix valley, you'll discover a variety of flora and fauna, brimming with jewels and splendors. Children will be delighted to get up close and personal with the elusive ibex. And, as you stroll along the water's edge, let yourself be overwhelmed by the whimsical power of the torrents and waterfalls as they tumble over the landscape. Taste the serenity of the Great Lakes, such as Lac Blanc, jealously guarded by Mont.
Don't hesitate to ask us for any information you may need to help you prepare your wanderings through our Valley, for which lunches and picnics can be prepared to order.
Discover all the activities offered by the hotel by browsing our website. The entire Refuge des Aiglons team is at your disposal to welcome you and make your stay an enchanted interlude at the foot of Mont Blanc.
The history of the Mont Blanc massif in a few dates...
1910: construction of the "Funiculaire du Glacier" is launched by the Société du Funiculaire Aérien de l'Aiguille du Midi-Mont-Blanc, but is finally abandoned in 1950 in favor of the present funicular.
1924: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc welcomes nearly 300 athletes for the first Winter Olympics.
1932: first radio broadcast from the summit of Mont-Blanc by Roger Frison Roche.
1954: commissioning of the 3,842-meter-high ropeway in two stages.
1955: the Aiguille du Midi cable car goes into service, while the summit of Mont Blanc sees its first helicopter landing.
1960: aviator Henri Giraud lands on a runway less than 30 meters long at the summit of Mont-Blanc.
1965: inauguration of the Mont-Blanc tunnel by General de Gaulle and Italian President Giuseppe Saragat, despite the slight dispute over the precise location of the border between France and Italy.
1973 and 1982: Mont-Blanc saw its first hang-glider take-off by Rudy Kishazy, followed by its first paraglider take-off by Roger Fillon.
1986: Tony Bernos parachutes to the summit of Mont Blanc before making the first snowboard descent.
