DAY ONE 16th May 2025 - Travel to Chamonix
On Friday the 16th May 2025 George, Dan and I left my house and drove just over an hour to Luton Airport and parked in the Long Stay Car Park and got the shuttlebus to the terminal. Once there we were rushed through to the front of security as I had booked the Free Prebook security!
It wasn't too long before we boarded our 0730 am EasyJet flight to Geneva.
Mel and I visited Chamonix for the day last May, but the Aiguille Du Midi was closed due to high winds, so I decided to come back and try again.
Once at Geneva Airport we were quickly through Passport control and made our way to the Montreux Jazz Café where the Alpy bus terminal was to catch our booked bus to Chamonix.
The bus arrived and after about an hour and twenty minutes we arrived at the Chamonix Sud(Bus Station). We got off and proceeded to walk the short walk to our hotel.
We walk across a bridge that spans the River Arve and stop to take in the views and snap a couple of photos. Its good to be back.
The Arve is a river in France (département of Haute-Savoie), and Switzerland (canton of Geneva). A left tributary of the Rhône, it is 108 km (67 mi) long, of which 9 km in Switzerland. Its catchment area is 1,976 km2 (763 sq mi), of which 80 km2 in Switzerland.
Rising in the northern side of the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps, close to the Swiss border, it receives water from the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley (mainly the Mer de Glace) before flowing north-west into the Rhône on the west side of Geneva, where its much higher level of silt brings forth a striking contrast between the two rivers.
The Arve flows through Chamonix, Sallanches, Oëx, Cluses, Bonneville, Annemasse and Geneva. Tributaries include, from source to mouth: Arveyron, Diosaz, Bon-Nant, Sallanche, Giffre, Borne, Menoge, Foron, Seymaz and Aire.
After walking down Rue du Dr Paccard the main high street we stop and have a look at a few shops, before reaching Place De La Eglise and ahead is Eglise St Micheal.
It's a Catholic church in the Savoyard or Alpine Baroque style with an onion dome , dating from the 12th and 19th centuries , under the patronage of the Archangel Michael , in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc , in Haute-Savoie . The building was listed as a historic monument in 1979.
Just before the Church (Eglise in French) is the Hotel Le Chamonix, our home for the next few days.
We walk in and we got lucky and our room is ready. We then find out we are on the top (4th) floor and there aren't any lifts. So we haul our cases up 4 flights of stairs to or room at the top.
It maybe a lot of stairs, but the views from our window make up for that, wow!
Its a budget 2 star hotel and the staircase looked well worn and needing some redecoration, but its just somewhere to sleep. Its an ideal location with fantastic views. Free WiFi and a TV if like watching shows in French.
We leave the hotel to look around, first order of the day grab something to eat. We decided that I will find Cool Cats where I visited before for some hotdogs.
We cross over the Arve and up Quai Du Vieux Moulin and I find Cool Cats and order some yummy hotdogs and a Warsteiner Beer.
We leave Cool Cats and walk into Chamonix for a good look about.
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc more commonly known simply as Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. It was the site of the first Winter Olympics, held in 1924.
Chamonix is situated in the French Alps just north of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Between the peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges and the notable Aiguille du Midi, it borders both Switzerland and Italy. It is one of the oldest ski resorts in France, popular with alpinists and mountain enthusiasts. Via the cable car lift to the Aiguille du Midi it is possible to access the off-piste ski run of the Vallée Blanche ('white valley').
We pop into a shop selling cold meats and cheese. My God if you can only smell the cheesy delights for sale in here!
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 245 km2 (95 sq mi). Its population of around 8,900 ranks 1,089th within the country of France.
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| The Mont Blanc Express |
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. However, in 1786 the inhabitants bought their freedom from the canons of Sallanches, to whom the priory had been transferred in 1519.
We walk out of town and up Route Des Pecles, I was planning to walk uphill the way Mel and I did last year, bur decided to carry on along the road to see where it goes and I'm so glad I did.
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| Cross of the Pecles |
A large wooden cross by Chemin de la Croix des Pecles (Way of the Cross of Pecles).
The road is lined with pretty Chalet style homes.
The Pècles and Gaillands sector is mainly composed of main residences (apartments or chalets), but sees an increase in its attractiveness to investors, due to the proximity of the city centre and prices slightly lower than the other sectors of Chamonix.
We reach Lac De Gaillands and the park here.
Located at the bottom of the Valley, Lac Gaillands is just a few miles from Chamonix and the ideal place for a little walk as you contemplate Mont Blanc and Bossons glacier.
The lake is just by the climbing wall on the way out of the hamlet of Les Pècles and near the delightful little Lac de l'Anglais, which tells the surprising story of an Englishman who loved Chamonix so much that he decided to buy the land here in 1886!
The Lac De Gaillands is full of Brown and Rainbow Trout, although we didn't see any.
At the beginning of the 20th century , during the construction of the Saint-Gervais-Vallorcine line , an excavation was created to extract backfill. This excavation was then filled with water, thanks to a stream from the neighbouring Lac à l'Anglais , which led to the creation of Lac des Gaillands. After crossing the lake, this stream flows into the Arve about a hundred metres downstream.
This lake, very popular with walkers, is located in a sports and relaxation area which also includes the Lac à l'Anglais and the Gaillands climbing rock. From the shores of the lake, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Mont Blanc massif and the Bossons glacier . This has earned the lake the nickname of Mirror of Mont Blanc , a name also once borne by a nearby hotel.
We sit and rest and take in the views and cool our feet in the lake.
Such a quiet and peaceful spot.
We walk on from Lac De Gaillands and cross the road over to Lac Anglais.
The lake is artificial and was built at the end of the 19th century by Lord Sinclair. John Sinclair frequently visited Chamonix and bought the land where the lake stands today in the year 1886. He then proceeded to create the lake and the nearby structures and a artificial cave as a tourist park. As such the nearby ruins are not of an old castle any other real structure. They are to be thought of more as garden ornaments.
We walk around and investigate the old Ruined Folly and the cave below.
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| Lovely view from the cave below the folly looking out over Lac Anglais. |
There is an adventure playground here and everything is secured closed, but George still managed to find a few things he could climb on.
A little further on is a climbing wall, none of us was wearing appropriate clothing or footwear let alone equipment to have a proper climb.
The views all around this area is just stunning and the mountain air is all so fresh and inviting.
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| A little cave that went no-where! |
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| Lac Anglais |
We walk back into town along Route Des Gaillands. There are buses that from the the Lake, but we decided not to wait for one.
Back in town we pass the Statue de Horace Bénédict de Saussure et Jacques Balmat.
The Statue of de Saussure in Chamonix holds a significant place in the city, standing proudly in Place Balmat, opposite the Chamonix Casino. Erected in 1887, this statue is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of those who dared to explore the majestic heights of Mont Blanc.
The statue depicts two climbers poised to conquer the towering summit. The identities of those immortalised in bronze here are Jacques Balmat, the intrepid guide who achieved the first ascent of Mont Blanc in August 1786, and Horace Benedict de Saussure himself. Balmat, a Chamonix native, was a skilled mountaineer and crystal collector and had extensive knowledge of the Mont Blanc massif, while Saussure, a Swiss geologist, was renowned for his scientific inquiries into the natural world.
Balmat ascended Mont Blanc alongside the physician Michel-Gabriel Paccard, yet it was Horace-Bénédict de Saussure who proposed the climb. Balmat ultimately guided the way to the mountain and led the ascent twice. Thus, Jean-Jules Salmson's sculpture design incorporated two individuals, Saussure and Balmat, with Balmat gesturing towards Mont Blanc. Meanwhile, Michel-Gabriel Paccard has been commemorated with a monument since 1986 along the banks of the Arve River.
This monument is widely regarded as one of the most renowned in the Alps and is undeniably among the most photographed landmarks in Chamonix, alongside the majestic mountain itself.
More photos of the River Arve making its way through Chamonix.
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.
We find the Station for The Mont Blanc Express, we will have a ride sometime in the next couple of days.
Opposite the Station is The Protestant Church Of Chamonix.
In the 19th century, British people came to spend the summer in Chamonix and organized to build an Anglican church .July 9, 1855. The Colonial and Continental Church Society of London purchased a plot of twenty-nine acres for four thousand francs outside the town. The English chapel was built in 1859, and inaugurated the following year.
We walk back into town and George wanted to try a French McDonalds, so that was what we had for dinner that night. Nothing great but filled an hole.
Still a nice view from McDonalds, not one you usually get from a Maccy D's.
We walk back into town along the River and the sun is beginning to set, lighting the mountains up with a warm glow.
The sun has set and I get my first look at Chamonix at night, lit with warm lights against a cold looking mountain range beyond.
We have drinks at L' Hydromel. Dan and I have a Belgian Bon Secours Blonde 9% and George has an Irish Cider.
We make our way back to the hotel to sleep, its been a long day with an very early start.
DAY TWO 17th May 2025 - Aiguille Du Midi and the Mont Blanc Express.
We wake up with a glorious view to Aiguille Du Midi and Mont Blanc beyond, could get used to waking to views like this. We go downstairs and have breakfast at the hotel before we walk to the Aiguille Du Midi.
What a fabulous morning with perfect weather, should definitely be able to go up today!
We arrive early at L'Aiguille du Midi and sit witing our turn, watching the many skiers and snowboarders board.
Finally at 0920 hours it was our turn to board and make our way up.
A French lady in the cable car from Chamonix told me, after a bit of translating she spoke little English and me little French. She said the tracks in the snow below were from Marmots, sadly I didn't see one on my way up.
We get off one Cable car and catch another to take us to the top.
The Aiguille du Midi is a 3,842-metre-tall (12,605 ft) mountain in the Mont Blanc massif within the French Alps. It is a popular tourist destination and can be directly accessed by cable car from Chamonix that takes visitors close to Mont Blanc.
The idea for a cable car to the summit, the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, was originally proposed around 1909, but did not come into operation until 1955 when it held the title of the world's highest cable car for about two decades. It still holds the record as the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, from 1,035 to 3,842 m (3,396 to 12,605 ft). There are two sections: from Chamonix to Plan de l'Aiguille at 2,317 m (7,602 ft) and then directly, without any support pillar, to the upper station at 3,777 m (the building contains an elevator to the summit).
The span of the second section is 2,867 m (1.781 mi) measured directly, but only 2,500 m (1.6 mi) measured horizontally. Thus it remains the second longest span width, measured directly. The cable car travels from Chamonix to the top of the Aiguille du Midi – an altitude gain of over 2,800 m (9,200 ft) – in 20 minutes.
We make it to the top, warmer than I thought it would be. We walk up to a viewing platform, I had to stop a few times. I wasn't expecting the altitude to affect me but I was really dizzy.
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| Nice photo with Mont Blanc summit beyond. |
I can' believe I've actually made it up and I'm so happy to have done so this time! The views are just stunning!
This famous needle, which is one of the highest in Chamonix, has been an unmissable destination for visitors for more than 60 years. In just 20 minutes, the Aiguille du Midi cable car will take you from the center of Chamonix to the high mountains, reaching an altitude of 3,842 m.
From the top of its 3777m, the Aiguille du Midi and its terraces offer a 360° view of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. Thanks to an elevator, you can access the summit terrace at 3842m, to discover a breath-taking view of the Mont Blanc.
At the mountain's summit there is a panoramic viewing platform, a snack bar, a café, a restaurant, and a gift shop. Even in summer, temperatures in the open viewing areas can fall to −10 °C (14 °F), and visitors require both warm clothing and protection from very bright sunlight. Because of the danger, tourists are unable to leave the visitor facilities on the Midi's summit. However, mountaineers and skiers can pass through a tunnel to reach the steep and extremely exposed ice ridge to descend to the glacier below.
The "mast" of Aiguille du Midi, also known as the "Needle of the Midi", refers to the iconic, massive TV transmitter on the summit of the mountain. This structure, a distinctive metal shard, is visible from miles around and is a key feature of the peak's landscape. It's part of the summit terrace, which is accessed by an elevator through the rock.
There is access by cable car to a nearby peak on the Italian side, called Skyway Monte Bianco, with a vertical lift of 2,166 m, and a cable car from that peak to Aiguille du Midi. This is only open in the summer.
We visit the Café up top and have my official highest pint I've ever enjoyed, with great views too!
Some huge icicles hanging from the building!
We take the elevator up the final stretch to the top and after taking pics around, we join the long queue for the Step into the Void. A sign says about 45 min wait!
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| View to Mont Blanc |
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| The Step into the Void Glass box. |
Had to take a pic, Brentford FC sticker, wish I'd bought a West Ham one up!
Sun was warm and I take off my jumper, wasn't expecting that!
In December 2013, a glass skywalk called "Step into the Void" opened at the top of the Aiguille du Midi peak. The view is 1,035 m (3,396 ft) straight down, and one can see Mont Blanc to the south. A further tourist attraction called "Le Tube" opened in 2016. It consists of an enclosed tubular walkway that completely circles the summit.
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| Dan in the glass box |
Next up its my turn, you have to wear slippers to protect the glass from scratches.
I walked in and before I had a chance the staff was taking photos with my phone, before I really had a chance to pose ha ha!
George had his turn and then it was time to think about our decent.
We made our way down and it seemed a lot faster going down.
We stop at the next level and look at the gift shop here and take in the views.
We started to descend in the final cable car and as it moves over the steep drop, you feel the cable car drop.
I see a Marmot running across the snow, I try telling George but he couldn't hear. His ears were in pain from the descent, so much so he thought his eardrums were going to burst!
Once down we visit the gift shop and then made our way to the Train Station to see about catching the Mont Blanc Express to Martigny in Switzerland. The lady at the station said we didn't really have enough time to get there and back. So we book tickets to Vallorcine,France. It was a little while before out train so we head back to the hotel, drop off some things. Had a little rest and then made our way back to the Station.
We caught the Mont Blanc Express to Vallorcine. See video below.
We get off in Vallorcine, there doesn't seem t be much here. Wish we went the other way to Servoz now. Oh well!
We leave the station and pass the Train Station here.
We stop by The Eau Noire before crossing the bridge over it.
Vallorcine is located in the Valley of the L'Eau Noire between the Col des Montets and the Swiss border.
We pass the small Town Hall (Mairie).
We walk into the small town, everything is closed. I assume it must be out of season.
Vallorcine is the terminus of the Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway on the route between Saint-Gervais-les-Bains in France and Martigny in Switzerland; it is served by a railway station where passengers must change between French and Swiss trains. In the Swiss direction, the line continues to Le Châtelard where it joins the Martigny–Châtelard Railway which is partially rack-operated.
I stop by the river and hang my feet into the river, but not for long. its cold and my feet were soon going numb!
We walk on crossing the railway tracks and along a road.
Passing an restaurant that was closed until next month. Nowhere to even grab a coffee!
We walk a short way up a footpath.
We stop a short way up and sit down to take in the views and the quietness of the town.
George strolls off to investigate a creepy looking barn up above, he says.
George returns from the barn, he said there was an eerie rope hanging from the rafters.
We walk back to the Station and grab an early train back, really nothing here to stay for.
We arrive back in Chamonix and make our way back to the Hotel.
Before we go back to our room, we decide to have a look in St Michaels Church by the hotel.
The Saint Michel Church holds a distinguished status as a classified historical monument since 1979, reflecting its rich heritage and architectural significance.
The church's origins trace back to its initial construction in 1119 by the Benedictine order. Although only the bell tower from this era remains, it stands as a testament to the church's ancient roots and enduring legacy. Subsequently, in 1707 and 1709, a new edifice was erected in the baroque architectural style, adding to the church's structural evolution and cultural importance.
One of the standout features of the Saint Michel Church is its remarkable altarpiece, crafted in the Empire style and completed between 1737 and 1738. This intricate and ornate altarpiece serves as a focal point within the church, exemplifying the exquisite craftsmanship and artistic expression of the period.
In addition to its architectural splendor, the Saint Michel Church is renowned for its majestic organ, inaugurated on July 12, 1992. Notably, the installation of the organ was meticulously planned to preserve the integrity of the church's grand stained-glass window. By dividing the installation into two parts, the organizers ensured that the magnificent stained-glass window remained fully visible and unobstructed, allowing visitors to admire its beauty while enjoying the harmonious melodies produced by the organ.
We climb the four floors back to our room and have a nap before waking up and heading out for dinner.
We visit La Ferme for dinner. Dan and I have the Tartiflette and George has a Bolognaise. Dan asks for a Panache to drink, not knowing what it was I have one too. Turns out a Panache in France is a shandy! Still wasn't unpleasant!
We leave the restaurant and stop at another place for Nutella and banana crepes, very nice too!
We make our way back to the hotel to sleep, on our way hone tomorrow, its gone so fast!
DAY THREE 18th May 2025- Geneva and Home.
We wake up, have breakfast at the hotel and then make our way back to the Bus Station via a few shops enroute.
We are still very early and sit about at the station waiting for our bus.
OIOyr pre-booked Flixbus arrives to take us back to the airport. I've had a message saying our EasyJet flight back to Luton is delayed. So we decide to stay on the bus into Geneva city centre instead of getting off at the airport.
We pass the United Nations building and the Broken Chair statue before alighting at Geneva Bus Station. I was here last year, but wanted George and Dan to see a small bit of Geneva to at least say they have been to Geneva and Switzerland. The airport doesn't count ha ha!
We pass the Brunswick Monument.
The Brunswick Monument is a mausoleum built in 1879 in the Jardin des Alpes in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the life of Charles II, Duke of Brunswick (1804–1873). He bequeathed his fortune to the city of Geneva in exchange for a monument to be built in his name, specifying that it be a replica of the Scaliger Tombs in Verona, Italy. The Grand Théâtre de Genève, opened in 1879, was built with the legacy.
In his will drawn up on 5 March 1871, Charles left his entire estate to the city of Geneva with a single stipulation; that a mausoleum be built for him in Geneva "in a prominent position and worthy", that it should feature statues of his father, Frederick William, and his grandfather, Charles William Ferdinand, and that it should imitate the style of the 14th century Scaliger Tombs in Verona. Accordingly, a design was chosen by the Swiss architect Jean Franel. Sited on the Quai du Mont-Blanc, it is built in three storeys of white marble with a hexagonal canopy over a sarcophagus bearing a recumbent figure of the duke. At the projecting corners are marble statues of six notable ancestors of the House of Guelph by various sculptors, and a bronze equestrian statue of Duke William by the French sculptor Auguste Cain was originally mounted at the top of the spire. The monument stands on a platform 65 meters long and 25 meters wide and is guarded by marble chimeras and lions, also by Cain.
The monument was unveiled on 14 October 1879; however, earthquake damage resulted in the removal of the equestrian statue to an adjacent plinth in 1883 and the top of the spire was rebuilt with a crown in 1890. The duke's estate amounted to 24 million Swiss Francs, two million of which were expended on the monument, the remainder was spent on a number of new public buildings, for example the Grand Théâtre.
We walk on over to Lake Geneva (Or Lac Leman as it is known in French).
We can see the famous Jet D'Eau de Geneve in the distance.
We cross the Pont Du Mont Blanc and come to the Flower Clock(L'Horloge Fleurie).
L'horloge fleurie, or the flower clock, is an outdoor flower clock located on the western side of Jardin Anglais park in Geneva, Switzerland.
Around 6,500 flowering plants and shrubs are used for the clock face. The plants are changed as the seasons change.
This one is dedicated to Women's Football as Geneva hosts the Women's Euros this year.
The clock was created in 1955 as a symbol of the city's watchmakers, and a dedication to nature.
Its second hand is the longest in the world, at 2.5 metres (8.2 ft). It was the largest flower clock in the world, with a diameter of 5 metres (16 ft), until the 2005 installation of a 15 metres (49 ft) one in Tehran, Iran.
We walk on over to the Jet D'Eau.
The Jet d'Eau is a large fountain in Geneva, Switzerland and is one of the city's most famous landmarks, being featured on the city's official tourism web site and on the official logo for Geneva's hosting of group stage matches at UEFA Euro 2008. Situated where Lake Geneva exits as the Rhône, it is visible throughout the city and from the air, even when flying over Geneva at an altitude of ten kilometres (33,000 ft).
Five hundred litres (130 US gal) of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 150 metres (490 ft) by two 500 kW pumps, operating at 2,400 V, consuming one megawatt of electricity and costing 510,000 CHF per year.The water leaves the ten-centimetre (4 in) nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h (55 m/s). At any given moment, there are about 7,000 L (1,800 US gal) of water in the air. Unsuspecting visitors to the fountain—which can be reached via a stone jetty from the left bank of the lake—may be surprised to find themselves drenched after a slight change in wind direction.
The first Jet d'Eau was installed in 1886 at the Usine de la Coulouvrenière, a little further downstream from its present location. It was used as a safety valve for a hydraulic power network and could reach a height of about 30 metres (100 ft). In 1891, its aesthetic value was recognised and it was moved to its present location to celebrate the Federal Gymnastics Festival and the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, when it was operated for the first time. Its maximum height was about 90 metres (300 ft). The present Jet d'Eau was installed in 1951 in a partially submerged pumping station to pump lake water instead of city water.
Since 2003, the fountain has operated during the day all year round, except in case of frost or particularly strong wind. It also operates in the evenings between spring and autumn, when it is lit by a set of 21 lights consuming 9 kW.
On 25 August 2016, the fountain celebrated its 125th anniversary at its present location. Between 30 March and 11 June 2020, the jet was shut off while the city was under public health measures due to COVID-19.
The Jet d'Eau featured in the titles and cut scenes of the late 1960s British television series The Champions
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The wind changed direction and George and I got soaked!
We walk back, crossing the bridge again and back towards the Train Station, Dan was a bit anxious of missing our flight. We make it to the train station, I buy 3 tickets to the airport. We use the toilets at the station at a mere £1.50 each. Switzerland is mega expensive!
We catch the train and 7 minutes later we are at the airport. We get through security and sit about waiting for our delayed flight.
We eventually board and before long we are back at London Luton Airport and making our way hone after a great long weekend away!
